The 50th IWVTA IWG session discussed strategies to increase IWVTA awareness and use, including harmonizing U-IWVTA with Japan’s Type Designation System and holding a workshop on July 17. Members reviewed UN R0/09 series amendments, considered revisions to General Guidelines on Transitional Provisions to prevent contradictions between series, and proposed a mechanism to identify compliance levels of UN type-approvals in DETA. The group will submit amended proposals to WP.29 in June and review updated Terms of Reference.

The 51st session of the IWVTA Informal Group is scheduled for June 17, 2026, at 14:00 (CEST) in Flensburg as a hybrid meeting. The agenda includes adoption of the agenda and report of the 50th meeting, highlights from the 198th WP.29 session, consideration of UN R0/09 series of amendments with Annex 4 update, proposed amendments to Guidelines on Transitional Provisions, discussion of boosting IWVTA awareness and promotion, extension of mandates beyond November 2026 with proposed terms of reference, and any other business, with a future meeting proposed for November 12 in Paris.

Proposal to insert new paras. 12.15. and 12.16. to establish transitional provisions, and amend Annex 4, Part A, Section I to update the list of requirements for U-IWVTA. Para. 12.15. provides that as from the official date of entry into force of the 09 series of amendments, no Contracting Party applying this UN Regulation shall refuse to grant or refuse to accept an IWVTA issued pursuant to this UN Regulation as amended by the 09 series of amendments. Para. 12.16. provides that as from 1 September 2027, Contracting Parties applying this UN Regulation shall not be obliged to accept type approvals to any of the preceding series of amendments, first issued after 1 September 2027. The amendment updates the table in Annex 4 to specify series of amendments for various UN Regulations including amendments to UN R14, UN R16, UN R46, UN R48, UN R79, UN R94, UN R95, UN R100, UN R110, UN R127, UN R129, UN R134, UN R137, UN R138, and UN R154.

Proposal to amend the General Guidelines for United Nations regulatory procedures and transitional provisions in UN Regulations based on WP.29/2024/76, to move transitional provisions applicable to all series of amendments to the beginning of transitional provisions sections, retitle successive series provisions as “Transitional provisions for the XX Series” and “Transitional provisions for the XX+1 Series”, add footnote reference 6 to para. V.3, and correct terminology from “previous” to “preceding” in footnotes 4–6 for consistency.

The Informal Working Group on International Whole Vehicle Type Approval assists WP.29 in harmonizing vehicle regulations under the 1958 Agreement. It clarifies issues related to UN Regulation No.0 and General Guidelines on Transitional provisions, upgrades UN Regulations applicable to IWVTA annually, and submits amendment proposals to WP.29 each November. Short to mid-term objectives include proposing user-friendly U-IWVTA and packaged L-IWVTA by end of 2029. Long-term objectives involve submitting proposals for full IWVTA covering all necessary UN Regulations. The group operates under WP.29 supervision, is open to 1958 Agreement Contracting Parties and NGOs, and makes decisions by consensus.