The secretary reviewed the REC roadmap. It was noted that the 00 version of the Regulation was adopted by the June 2013 meeting of GRPE. The formal proposal for the REC-01 needs to be sent before mid-November to meet the publication deadline for the January 2014 GRPE.

A Council decision is being prepared to allow the EU to vote positively for the adoption of the Regulation at the November 2013 meeting of WP.29.

It was clarified that once published by the UN, the Regulation can then be applied by Contracting Parties who are then bound to accept approvals to the UN Regulation. This does not prohibit local authorities or companies from having additional requirements. It was noted, though, that the Regulation has been developed in such a way as to minimise any demand for additional requirements.

The Commission does not at present intend to develop harmonised EU legislation based on the UN Regulation and this is not on the Commission’s work programme for 2013 or 2014.

The formal 01 version of the REC Regulation (which will introduce the stricter limits for efficiency and possibly for NO2) has to be submitted by 15 November 2013 to be considered at the January 2014 session of GRPE.