23. The Secretary of WP.29 introduced the list of Working Parties, Informal Working Groups and Chairs (WP.29-185-01), the calendar of meetings of the World Forum for 2022 (WP.29-185-02) and presented the revised Programme of Work (PoW) with a strategic introduction on the main priorities of the WP.29 work, which are related to the implementation of the ITC strategy 2030 and among others, to vehicle automation and environmental protection. (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/1/Rev.2).

24. The representatives of the United States of America and Japan expressed concern with the dates and timing of the November 2022 session of the World Forum and requested that these dates be re-adjusted to enable their full participation at that session. The representative of Japan also expressed concern with the time of WP.29 and GRs sessions in 2022 and requested that timing is decided taking into account world-wide time zones so that most participants attending remotely can attend at suitable hours without extra burden. The Chair of GRVA expressed concerns about the non-confirmed session of GRVA in May 2022. He recalled the importance for GRVA to hold a third session in the year prior to the June 2022 session of WP.29.

25. The secretariat introduced informal document WP.29-185-06, which will form the basis for the 2022 Programme of Work of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations and its Subsidiary Bodies. WP.29 noted that the updated list of priorities for GRSP would be provided following the December 2021 session. WP.29 was informed on a scheduled ad-hoc session of AC.2 for final review before the adoption at the March 2022 session of WP.29.

26. The representative of the European Commission introduced informal document WP.29-185-17, proposing a list of priorities from the European Union covering safety and automated/connected vehicles as well as emissions.

27. WP.29 endorsed the revised programme of work as introduced in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/1/Rev.2.

47. Referring to the amendment adopted under agenda item 23(g) (see para. 44 above), the expert from CLEPA introduced GRSP-69-41, to align UN Regulations Nos. 94, 95, 137 and 153. GRSP adopted GRSP-69-41, as reproduced in Annex X to this report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal for consideration and vote at the November 2021 sessions of WP.29 and to the AC.1. as draft:
(a) Supplement 1 to the 04 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 94 (Frontal collision);
(b) part of Supplement 2 (see para. 19 above) to the 05 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 95 (Lateral collision);
(c) Supplement 2 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 137 (Frontal impact with focus on restraint systems);
(d) Supplement 2 to the original series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 153 (Fuel system integrity and safety of electric power train in the event of a rear-end collision).

125. The expert of OICA introduced a proposal for amendments to UN Regulation No. 34 (GRSG-121-41), that aims avoid double approval with regard to fire risks by deleting the impact tests for M1 and N1 vehicles from UN Regulation No. 34. She explained that those vehicles were covered within the scope of UN Regulations Nos. 94, 95 and 153, stating that UN Regulation No. 153 covered the prevention of fire risks more appropriately than UN Regulation No. 34 as it covered fuel safety as well as electric vehicle and hydrogen safety. She invited Contracting Parties to forward their comments to the proposal to OICA.

126. GRSG considered document GRSG-121-41, proposing amendments to UN Regulation No. 34, and requested its submission as an official document for consideration at the October 2021 session of GRSG.