12. The World Forum noted the revised programme of work and documentation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/1). WP.29 representatives were invited to review the document and to communicate to the secretariat any amendments deemed necessary. The secretariat presented the draft calendar of sessions for the year 2015 (based on WP.29-163-01 as reproduced in Annex II to the session report) and announced that a request to advance the May session of GRSG by two weeks would be transmitted to the Conference Services.

13. The secretariat presented the list of the GRs, Informal Working Groups (IWGs) and the list of the Administrative and Executive Committees (WP.29-163-02-Rev.1). At the request of the Chair of GRPE, WP.29 agreed to extend the mandate of the Gaseous Fuelled Vehicles (GFV) IWG until June 2016. The representative of the United States of America pointed out that the Chair of the IWG on Harmonization of Side Impact Dummies was Ms. M. Medri (United States of America).

75. The secretariat introduced the letter from the Government of Ecuador requesting written support from WP.29 and vehicle manufacturers on the application of UN Regulations and UN GTRs listed in Ecuador’s future national legislation (WP.29-163-03).

76. The World Forum supported this action towards vehicle safety. WP.29 noted the great effort of Ecuador to introduce the UN Regulations and UN GTRs in its vehicle legislation. WP.29 encouraged Ecuador to continue these efforts as a first step to the important objective of acceding to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements. The representative of FIA Foundation and Global New Car Assessment Programme (GlobalNCAP) recalled the efforts of GlobalNCAP and of the WP.29 secretariat to foster the accession of Latin American countries to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements to reduce road casualties. He underlined the relevant expectations from stakeholders concerning this accession and expressed his encouragement to not miss this opportunity. The representative of EU recalled the participation of his organization in these efforts which also aim at minimizing trade issues and supported the above-mentioned statements. The representative of Germany suggested inviting a delegation from Ecuador to the November 2014 session of WP.29 to participate to bilateral meetings with concerned Contracting Parties, stakeholders and type approval authorities. He explained that the meetings would provide the opportunity to share information and solve remaining issues. This invitation could also be extended to other interested parties.

European Commission unable to formally consider the editorial correction proposed by the WP.29 secretariat. Therefore, the EC does not have authority to approve the combined package of proposals. Therefore, the vote on adoption must be postponed until the November 2014 session.

No objections to the proposals which are passed for consideration to adopt during the AC.1 session.

57. Agenda item 4.7.3, Regulation No. 83, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/41, correct Annex 4a, Appendix 7, paragraph 4.1.2., to read:

No objections to the proposals which are passed for consideration to adopt during the AC.1 session.

55. Agenda item 4.6.5, Regulation No. 127, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/38, insert the following amendments:

Paragraphs 11.1. to 11.4., amend to read:

Annex 4, paragraphs 1.1. and 1.4., square brackets shall be removed.

Annex 5, paragraph 3.2.1., amend to read:

Annex 5, Figure 5, amend to read:

“Figure 5
Example of marking of HIC1000 zone and HIC1700 zone
See document WP.29/2014/38 for the drawing accompanying the revised title.

Annex 6, paragraph 2.2.4., amend to read:

Annex 6, Figure 5, the title, amend to read:
“Figure 5
Flexible lower legform impactor: Test set-up for the knee joint in the static certification test (see paragraph 1.2.5. of this Annex) …”

Annex 6, Figure 6, the title, amend to read:
“Figure 6
Flexible lower legform impactor: Test set-up for the dynamic lower legform impactor certification test (pendulum test, see paragraph 1.3.3.1. of this Annex) …”

Annex 6, Figure 7, the title, amend to read:
“Figure 7
Flexible lower legform impactor: Test set-up for the dynamic lower legform impactor certification test (inverse test, see paragraph 1.4.3.1. of this Annex) …”

27. GRSP resumed consideration on the remaining issues of the proposed 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 127 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/38), such as the tolerances of the flexible pedestrian legform impactor (FlexPLI). GRSP finally adopted GRSP-55-14-Rev.3 (incorporating GRSP-55-24), as reproduced in Annex V to this report. GRSP requested the secretariat to send the proposal (WP.29-163-06) to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2014 sessions as a draft amendment to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/38. GRSP also adopted GRSP-55-44, as reproduced in Annex V to this report, to introduce a parallel correction to Supplement 1 of the original version of the UN Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/37). GRSP requested the secretariat to send the proposal (WP.29-163-07) to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2014 sessions as a draft amendment to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/37.

28. GRSP agreed to resume consideration at its December 2014 session of this agenda item based on a possible proposal of an Addendum to the M.R.1 to incorporate the FlexPLI.

No objections to the proposals which are passed for consideration to adopt during the AC.1 session.

54. Agenda item 4.6.4, Regulation No. 127, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/37, insert amendments to Annex 5, paragraph 3.2.1., to read:

27. GRSP resumed consideration on the remaining issues of the proposed 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 127 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/38), such as the tolerances of the flexible pedestrian legform impactor (FlexPLI). GRSP finally adopted GRSP-55-14-Rev.3 (incorporating GRSP-55-24), as reproduced in Annex V to this report. GRSP requested the secretariat to send the proposal (WP.29-163-06) to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2014 sessions as a draft amendment to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/38. GRSP also adopted GRSP-55-44, as reproduced in Annex V to this report, to introduce a parallel correction to Supplement 1 of the original version of the UN Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/37). GRSP requested the secretariat to send the proposal (WP.29-163-07) to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2014 sessions as a draft amendment to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/37.

28. GRSP agreed to resume consideration at its December 2014 session of this agenda item based on a possible proposal of an Addendum to the M.R.1 to incorporate the FlexPLI.

European Commission unable to formally consider the editorial correction proposed by the WP.29 secretariat. Therefore, the EC does not have authority to approve the combined package of proposals. Therefore, the vote on adoption must be postponed.

European Commission unable to formally consider the editorial correction proposed by the WP.29 secretariat. Therefore, the EC does not have authority to approve the combined package of proposals. Therefore, the vote on adoption must be postponed.

39. Upon the request of WP.29 at its previous session, the secretariat presented the guidelines on amendments to UN Regulations (WP.29-163-10) with several proposals on the administrative proceedings of the secretariat under the current version and the future Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement. WP.29 welcomed the proposal and referred the document to IWVTA and its subgroups for detailed consideration at their next meetings. WP.29 invited all interested delegates to transmit their comments to the secretariat and agreed to resume consideration on this subject at its next session on the basis of a revised document, taking into account the comments received.

40. Concluding the discussion, WP.29 requested the secretariat to participate in all forthcoming meetings of IWVTA.

14. The secretariat also presented the distribution of tasks in the secretariat (WP.29-163-11-Rev.1). WP.29 noted that two of the three vacancies were assigned on temporary basis. The Chair of GRPE thanked Mr. F. Guichard for ensuring the secretariat of GRPE on a temporary basis. Nevertheless and due to the workload, he stressed the importance of finalizing the selection process of the secretary of GRPE as a matter of urgency with a permanent staff member. The representative of Italy stated that the selection of the new Chief of Section should be made with the technical continuity in mind.

78. The representative of OICA presented WP.29-163-12, reporting on difficulties faced by the IWG on AECS in the process of developing new provisions and wondered whether communication network protocols could be regulated under the 1958 Agreement. How this issue may be resolved may become a basis for future vehicle connectivity regulatory work and, therefore, needs to be carefully addressed. He concluded his intervention by asking WP.29 representatives to review these issues at the November 2014 session to prepare guidance for the future work of the IWG. The representative of the Russian Federation agreed that this subject was a new challenge and proposed to continue consideration of these issues within the IWG. The representative of ITU recalled the recently agreed collaboration between WP.29 and ITU for addressing these types of issues. He also recalled the scope of activities of his organization, producing recommendations on satellite, navigation and communication that can be implemented in regulations and proposed to strengthen the collaboration on this matter. WP.29 agreed to follow up on this issue and requested the secretariat to keep this item on the agenda of its November 2014 session.

85. The representative of OICA presented WP.29-164-31. He stressed the importance of the principle of mutual recognition of type approval of the 1958 Agreement. Therefore, he raised his concern on covering vehicle systems and communication standards in different classes, which would prevent by definition the mutual recognition of type approvals not covering the same classes. He suggested limiting the scope of the Regulation to in-vehicle components and excluding communication technology classes specific to each region at this stage. The representative of CLEPA supported the position of OICA.

106. The representative of Canada recalled the progress made by the IWG on Electric vehicles and the environment. He added that GRPE had endorsed the Electric vehicle reference guide, which would be submitted to WP.29 for consideration at its November 2014 session. Following these activities, the IWG developed a draft document (WP.29-163-13) proposing the extension of IWG mandate, proposing potential new UN GTRs on Electric vehicles. AC.3 agreed to revise consideration of this item and requested the secretariat to distribute WP.29-163-13 with an official symbol.

35. The Chair of the IWG on EVE introduced GRPE-69-26 on recent meetings. He provided information on the draft regulatory reference guide (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2014/13) and recommended its endorsement by GRPE. He reported that several minor changes had been suggested, but that the EVE leadership did not accept them. He presented GRPE-69-14-Rev.1 containing a proposal for a new mandate. GRPE endorsed the proposed Electric Vehicle Reference Guide, which would be submitted to WP.29 for consideration at its November 2014 session. Noting the concern raised by OICA about the wording “assuming that” as well as the position of the EC to be clarified at the June 2014 AC.3 session, GRPE welcomed in principle the proposal for the road map to develop a gtr by the EVE Group.

127. The representative of Canada presented ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/88, proposing an extension to the mandate of EVE. The representative of EU introduced WP.29-164-07 expressing concerns on the drafted mandate in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/88.

128. The representative of Canada stated that EVE had taken note of the content of WP.29-164-17 and that WP.29-164-15 included the corresponding amendments. The representative of EU agreed with the draft proposal as amended WP.29-164-15. AC.3 adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2014/88 as amended by WP.29-164-15 and requested the secretariat to prepare the corresponding AC.3 document.

41. The representative of Australia introduced the draft UN Regulation (WP.29-163-14) as well as a draft 01 series of amendments (WP.29-163-15) to receive guidance (see para. 29 above). He explained that a revised version of WP.29-163-14 would be submitted for consideration and vote to the November 2014 session of WP.29 on appropriately addressing the reference to the ISO standard. He indicated that in the framework of the IWG activities on side impact dummies, work was adequately progressing on including the 50th percentile WorldSID into the draft Addendum 2 to M.R.1. He added that, as a result of recent negotiations, ISO would provide the specifications needed. Therefore, he announced that a draft Addendum 2 would be ready for consideration and vote by the end of 2015 or beginning 2016. The representative of the United States of America confirmed this schedule.

34. The expert from Australia summarized (GRSP-55-16) the work of transposing UN GTR No. 14 (Pole Side Impact) into a draft new UN Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9). The experts from the Netherlands and France questioned the inclusion of N1 category of vehicles into the UN Regulation since it was not justified by national data. The expert from the United Kingdom supported this conclusion. The expert from EU informed GRSP that a cost benefit analysis by his organization would better identify the category of vehicles to be addressed. GRSP noted that the specifications of the three-dimensional H-point machine (3-D H machine) of the draft UN Regulation differed from those of the 3-D H machine of the Consolidated Resolution No. 3 (R.E.3). The expert from France, supported by the expert from Italy, questioned the reference to the ISO standard, concerning drawings and dummy specifications instead of a reference to an addendum to the M.R.l. Following the suggestion of the expert from the Netherlands, GRSP also noted that a possible development of the UN Regulation (in parallel to the future Phase 2 of the UN GTR No. 14) could be to include the viscous criteria (VC) and the thorax deflection limit. Moreover, GRSP considered GRSP-55-45 incorporating the amendments to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9 agreed during the session.

35. GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9, as amended by Annex VII to this report and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/12, not amended, this last introducing a vehicle-to-pole impact speed of 32 ± 1 km/h regardless to the vehicle width. The secretariat was requested to submit ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9 as draft UN Regulation on Pole Side Impact and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/12 as draft 01 series of amendments to the UN Regulation to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their November 2014 sessions. However, GRSP requested the expert from Australia to send the proposals to WP.29 at its June 2014 session on a preliminary basis and to seek guidance from WP.29/AC.2 on: (i) Reference to ISO STD (WorldSID) instead of an Addendum to M.R.1. and (ii) transitional provisions of the 01 series of amendments simultaneously adopted with the original version of the UN Regulation.

36. Finally, GRSP agreed to seek consent from WP.29 and AC.3 at their June 2014 sessions on mandating an IWG to harmonize the 3-D H point machine specifications.

41. The representative of Australia introduced the draft UN Regulation (WP.29-163-14) as well as a draft 01 series of amendments (WP.29-163-15) to receive guidance (see para. 29 above). He explained that a revised version of WP.29-163-14 would be submitted for consideration and vote to the November 2014 session of WP.29 on appropriately addressing the reference to the ISO standard. He indicated that in the framework of the IWG activities on side impact dummies, work was adequately progressing on including the 50th percentile WorldSID into the draft Addendum 2 to M.R.1. He added that, as a result of recent negotiations, ISO would provide the specifications needed. Therefore, he announced that a draft Addendum 2 would be ready for consideration and vote by the end of 2015 or beginning 2016. The representative of the United States of America confirmed this schedule.

42. WP.29 noted the information by OLA that the legal notification procedure for any amendment to a UN Regulation which was not in force would be initiated only after the entry into force of that UN Regulation. Therefore, WP.29 agreed that the draft 01 series of amendments, even if adopted at its November 2014 session, would await the entry into force of the draft UN Regulation. WP.29 noted that a revised version of WP.29-163-15 would be submitted by Australia, with new transitional provisions in line with the general guidelines ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1044/Rev.1.

34. The expert from Australia summarized (GRSP-55-16) the work of transposing UN GTR No. 14 (Pole Side Impact) into a draft new UN Regulation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9). The experts from the Netherlands and France questioned the inclusion of N1 category of vehicles into the UN Regulation since it was not justified by national data. The expert from the United Kingdom supported this conclusion. The expert from EU informed GRSP that a cost benefit analysis by his organization would better identify the category of vehicles to be addressed. GRSP noted that the specifications of the three-dimensional H-point machine (3-D H machine) of the draft UN Regulation differed from those of the 3-D H machine of the Consolidated Resolution No. 3 (R.E.3). The expert from France, supported by the expert from Italy, questioned the reference to the ISO standard, concerning drawings and dummy specifications instead of a reference to an addendum to the M.R.l. Following the suggestion of the expert from the Netherlands, GRSP also noted that a possible development of the UN Regulation (in parallel to the future Phase 2 of the UN GTR No. 14) could be to include the viscous criteria (VC) and the thorax deflection limit. Moreover, GRSP considered GRSP-55-45 incorporating the amendments to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9 agreed during the session.

35. GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9, as amended by Annex VII to this report and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/12, not amended, this last introducing a vehicle-to-pole impact speed of 32 ± 1 km/h regardless to the vehicle width. The secretariat was requested to submit ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/9 as draft UN Regulation on Pole Side Impact and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/12 as draft 01 series of amendments to the UN Regulation to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their November 2014 sessions. However, GRSP requested the expert from Australia to send the proposals to WP.29 at its June 2014 session on a preliminary basis and to seek guidance from WP.29/AC.2 on: (i) Reference to ISO STD (WorldSID) instead of an Addendum to M.R.1. and (ii) transitional provisions of the 01 series of amendments simultaneously adopted with the original version of the UN Regulation.

36. Finally, GRSP agreed to seek consent from WP.29 and AC.3 at their June 2014 sessions on mandating an IWG to harmonize the 3-D H point machine specifications.

72. On item 4.13.3 (01 series of amendments to the new Regulation on PSI), the secretariat reminded WP.29 delegates that the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) will not initiate the legal procedure for adoption of the 01 series of amendments until the original version of the Regulation on PSI entered into force.

6. The Committee reviewed the draft agenda of the 163rd session of the World Forum and recommended the amendments as indicated in para. 3 above. The Committee also recommended that agenda item 5.1 be considered by the World Forum and that the remaining agenda items on the 1998 Agreement be considered by the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement (AC.3). The Committee noted WP.29-163-17, transmitted by the representative of the Russian Federation, proposing amendments to the draft amendments to UN Rules Nos. 1 and 2 annexed to the 1997 Agreement. The Committee was of the opinion that full consideration of the informal document should be made by WP.29 under agenda item 7.2. The Committee recommended not to hold the session of the Administrative Committee of the 1997 Agreement (AC.4) until after a full consideration of WP.29-163-17 has been concluded by WP.29.

70. The representative of the Russian Federation introduced WP.29-163-17, containing amendments to the proposed amendments to UN Rules 1 and 2 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/132 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/133). WP.29 agreed on a detailed discussion of WP.29-163-17 at its next session in November 2014 and requested the secretariat to distribute it with an official symbol. The representative of CITA was invited to prepare a document with the differences between the proposals for amendments to UN Rules Nos. 1 and 2, as modified by WP.29-163-17, and the recently adopted EU Directive (2014/45/EU) on this matter. The representatives of Finland and the Netherlands expressed their preference for aligning the date of entry into force of both the EU Directive and the draft amendments to UN Rules Nos. 1 and 2. The Vice-Chair proposed to investigate the use of transitional provisions addressing the comment expressed above.

74. The representative of the Russian Federation presented proposals to the World Forum for amending UN Rules Nos. 1 and 2 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/132 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2013/133). WP.29 agreed to transmit the proposals to AC.4 for consideration at the March 2014 session.

87. AC.3 noted the information, as of 16 June 2014, on the status of the Agreement (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1073/Rev.10) as well as the status of the priorities (based on WP.29-163-18 as reproduced in Annex III to the WP.29 session report) of the Agreement and items on which the exchange of views should continue. AC.3 also noted that assistance may be obtained from the secretariat (Mr. E Gianotti) concerning the obligations of Contracting Parties on the transposition process. Updated information on the status of the priorities is reproduced in Annex III to the report.

45. The representative of Japan, Vice-Chair of the IWG on IWVTA, reported on the work progress made during the meetings held in Moscow prior to the WP.29 session (WP.29-163-19). He underlined the need to distribute a questionnaire to be sent to all countries/REIO (regional economic integrated organizations) participating in WP.29 on the difficulty with the proposed UN Regulations included in UN R0 and on the procedure for spare parts (WP.29-163-20 and WP.29-163-21). He proposed the insertion of a new column in the status document of the Agreement to list minimum acceptable versions of UN Regulations by Contracting Parties which accept the IWVTA of limited recognition. He sought the consent of WP.29 to use English as the only language for the application of type approvals and the accompanying documentation.

46. The World Forum welcomed the work done by IWVTA and endorsed the proposed procedures above.

45. The representative of Japan, Vice-Chair of the IWG on IWVTA, reported on the work progress made during the meetings held in Moscow prior to the WP.29 session (WP.29-163-19). He underlined the need to distribute a questionnaire to be sent to all countries/REIO (regional economic integrated organizations) participating in WP.29 on the difficulty with the proposed UN Regulations included in UN R0 and on the procedure for spare parts (WP.29-163-20 and WP.29-163-21). He proposed the insertion of a new column in the status document of the Agreement to list minimum acceptable versions of UN Regulations by Contracting Parties which accept the IWVTA of limited recognition. He sought the consent of WP.29 to use English as the only language for the application of type approvals and the accompanying documentation.

46. The World Forum welcomed the work done by IWVTA and endorsed the proposed procedures above.

45. The representative of Japan, Vice-Chair of the IWG on IWVTA, reported on the work progress made during the meetings held in Moscow prior to the WP.29 session (WP.29-163-19). He underlined the need to distribute a questionnaire to be sent to all countries/REIO (regional economic integrated organizations) participating in WP.29 on the difficulty with the proposed UN Regulations included in UN R0 and on the procedure for spare parts (WP.29-163-20 and WP.29-163-21). He proposed the insertion of a new column in the status document of the Agreement to list minimum acceptable versions of UN Regulations by Contracting Parties which accept the IWVTA of limited recognition. He sought the consent of WP.29 to use English as the only language for the application of type approvals and the accompanying documentation.

46. The World Forum welcomed the work done by IWVTA and endorsed the proposed procedures above.

48. The representative of France, chairing the IWG on IWVTA, gave a general overview of the outcome of the two meetings held in Paris and Bonn prior to the WP.29 session. The representative of Japan, chairing the IWVTA subgroup on the development of UN Regulation No. 0, reported on the group’s work progress (WP.29-161-17). He recalled that the main objective of the IWVTA was the extension of the mutual recognition of vehicle systems and components to whole vehicles. He added that the subgroup recognized that this objective could not be achieved in a single step. UN Regulation No. 0 would thus allow, in a first step, a partial IWVTA limited to M1 category of vehicles. This partial type approval would need completion by national or regional approvals. At a future point, a complete whole vehicle approval would be possible. He described the working assumptions concerning the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties (CPs) applying UN Regulation No. 0 and that it was foreseen to annually update UN Regulation No. 0. He presented the structure of UN Regulation No. 0 and two tentative lists with UN Regulations for further review that would need to be complied with for obtaining a Whole Vehicle Type Approval. List A contained thirty-nine UN Regulations that could already be included in the first step of the partial IWVTA. List B contained fourteen UN Regulations that would need amendment before their inclusion into list A. The representative of Japan also reported on the foreseen evolution of UN Regulation No. 0 and highlighted that the ultimate goal of IWVTA was the universal Whole Vehicle Type Approval mutually recognized by all CPs applying UN Regulation No. 0 without any additional national requirements. An additional further step would include vehicle categories other than M1. He concluded his presentation by indicating that the subgroup intended to complete the drafting of the partial IWVTA requirements by March 2016 and announced that the next meeting of the subgroup was scheduled to be held in Japan on 21-23 January 2014. He added that the latest version of draft UN Regulation No. 0 was available.

49. The representative of EU supported this process and the efforts achieved. He underlined the need for agreement on the list of UN Regulations to be included in UN Regulation No. 0. The representative of OICA joined the EU in this support and added that the IWVTA was of the highest importance for the automotive industry.

99. The representative of the United States of America, on behalf of the co-sponsors of the UN GTR, informed AC.3 through the second progress report (WP.29-163-22) on the fifth meeting of the IWG (13-15 May 2014, Washington D.C.). He outlined the main items of discussion on: (i) research and rulemaking activities of Contracting Parties, (ii) UN GTR outline, road map of work and timeline, (iii) development of the UN GTR in one phase and, (iv) establishment of a new Task Force to investigate a possible extension of the UN GTR scope to include buses and trucks. He sought AC.3 endorsement of this extension until December 2015 to complete research and submit a draft UN GTR to GRSP at that time. He finally informed AC.3 on the next meeting of the IWG scheduled on 18-20 November 2014 in the Republic of Korea. AC.3 endorsed the extension of the mandate and requested the secretariat to distribute WP.29-163-22 at its November 2014 session with an official symbol.

119. The representative of the United States of America informed the Committee that since the previous session, there had not been any meeting of the IWG on Electric Vehicle Safety (EVS). He announced that the next meeting would be held in the third week of November 2014 in the Republic of Korea.

94. The representative of the United Kingdom reported on the work progress of the IWG on Phase 2 of UN GTR No. 7 (WP.29-163-23). He recalled the main challenges of the IWG: (i) the effective and absolute height measurement of the head restraint and (ii) the introduction of the BioRID dummy in the UN GTR as a test tool. He clarified that the effective height measurement method of the head restraints had been finalized, based on a repeatable geometric process that excluded styling features with no restraining purposes. The IWG concluded that, concerning the establishment of a maximum absolute height value of the head restraints, the ultimate decision could only be taken by Contracting Parties during GRSP proper sessions. He informed AC.3 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had extensively conducted cadaver testing to allow the IWG to correlate cadaver response with performance of BioRID and establish injury criteria. However, he said that reproducibility of dummy performances were critical, because of the need to replace banned chemical materials used in dummy components. He added that this issue could delay the delivery of a complete proposal. However, he stated that the IWG was expected to submit an informal draft proposal at the December 2014 session of GRSP and complete discussion on the basis of an official document at the May 2015 session of GRSP. He suggested that AC.3 consider the possibility to separate the BioRID issue and head restraint height measurement from the proposal of amendment to the UN GTR. The representative of OICA recalled that AC.3 had already decided to request GRSP to recommend a proposal including both issues. AC.3 agreed to defer decision on this issue to its November 2014 session. The secretariat was requested to distribute WP.29-163-23 with an official symbol at the November 2014 session of AC.3.

48. The representative of the Russian Federation supported the initiative and proposed an amendment to the voting procedure by increasing the current threshold of two-thirds to a minimum of three-quarters majority as this would strengthen the rule making procedures of Contracting Parties. She voiced legal objections to the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the proposed proxy voting. WP.29 noted that, according to OLA, the proxy voting procedure was legally acceptable in the context of the United Nations (WP.29-163-24).

49. The representative of Japan announced that the draft Revision 3 was satisfactory for his country. He expressed his preference for a four-fifths majority and stated that this view was shared by a number of Asian Contracting Parties as well as by some potential Contracting Parties to the Agreement. He announced the preparation of a concrete proposal on raising the voting majority threshold, for consideration at the November 2014 session. The representative of EU supported draft Revision 3 and recommended Contracting Parties to also initiate their procedures for legal and political assessment. The representative of Australia indicated his country’s support for a four-fifths majority and that Australia would be a co-sponsor of Japan’s proposal. He also indicated Australia’s support for proxy voting, citing the tyranny of distance as a reason some delegations had difficulty in attending WP.29.