During the 169th session of WP.29 (para. 39 of the session report), the World Forum was informed that, following the entry into force of the new European legislation on provisions on real driving emissions and Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) as of September 2017, no new vehicles will be allowed to enter into the European market without fulfilling these new provisions.

WP.29 agreed to introduce transitional provisions in UN Regulations Nos. 83 and 101 to specify that Contracting Parties applying UN Regulations Nos. 83 and 101 which would also apply WLTP as defined in UN GTR No. 15 (such as the EU) would have no obligation to accept type-approvals granted on the basis of test cycles other than WLTP as of September 2017 (para. 41 of the 169th session report). WP.29 requested the secretariat to prepare an official document for the WP.29 March 2017 session, subject to the endorsement of GRPE at its January 2017 session, on supplements to UN Regulations Nos. 83 and 101 introducing such transitional provisions.

Thus, the secretariat has prepared this text to allow for such a derogation from mutual recognition requirements under UN R83 and R101 until such time as GTR 15 has been transposed into UN Regulations under the 1958 Agreement.

Proposal for improving the efficiency of WP.29 sessions through the designation of agenda items as “A-points”. A-points would be recommended for approval as a block. This would not change the voting procedure, but would reduce the time devoted to considering proposals during the session prior to the vote. Items considered as A points might fulfill attributes such as:

1. the proposal does not establish a new Regulation;
2. the amendment does not create the starting point of a new series of amendments;
3. there was no dissent during discussions at GR level;
4. the amendment does not contain substantial elements;
5. the amendment is a series of parallel amendments within a Regulation (e.g. different series of amendments);
6. the amendment is a series of parallel amendments to a number of Regulations (e.g. introducing the term REESS).

UN Regulations Nos. 49 and 83 include provisions for a “driver inducement system” that alerts drivers of low reagent levels (urea, etc.) critical to correct emissions control performance and eventually prevents vehicle operation if the reagent tank is empty. Under UN R49 (para. 5.2), rescue, police, and other emergency/special use vehicles are exempted from this requirement. This proposal would extend the same treatment under UN R83. The proposal also makes several corrections and clarifications (see document GRPE/2016/11) with respect to extensions of approval, reduction in efficiency of the catalytic converter with respect to emissions of NMHC and NOx, and OBD.