44. GRSP noted through informal document GRSP-70-29 that since 1999, over 2,300 lateral impact barriers produced (used by Technical Services for type approval testing) had a parameter (front plate elongation break requirement) not in compliance with the requirement requested by UN Regulation No. 95. GRSP requested its experts to investigate and report to its May 2022 session on the consequences of non-compliance of the barriers which may have led to non-compliance to UN Regulation No. 95 of 20 years of vehicle production.

18. The expert from the Netherlands introduced GRSP-71-17 to GRSP which decided to collect more information on the barriers that have been used for type approval testing of lateral impact and on their compliance or not with UN Regulation No. 95. For the time being, GRSP agreed to resume discussion at the December 2022 session until more information would be made available to make sure that barriers used for type approval testing are fully compliant.

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.

82. The representative of Japan, Chair of the IWG on IWVTA presented a proposal for the 04 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 0 (WP.29-184-07), the regular annual update of the UN Regulation and its Annex 4, Part A, Section I (List of requirements for Universal (U)-IWVTA), including an addition of four UN Regulations into the table (Nos. 154, 161, 162 and 163). He invited the World Forum to consider the document for issuing as an official proposal for its November 2021 session.

83. The representative from Switzerland explained the situation in the country that is similar to the situation in the EU, where approval from UN Regulation No. 154 are not sufficient to grant vehicle emission approvals. He suggested to add a footnote in UN Regulation No. 154 to clarify the situation for all CPs. The representative from the EU agreed that for the purpose of EU type approval, an approval to UN Regulation No. 154 needs to be accompanied by supplementary evidence of meeting regional regulatory requirements. He added that the intention of the EU was not to prevent other CPs to benefit from an inclusion of UN Regulation No. 154 into UN Regulation No. 0.

84. The representative from OICA sought further clarifications from the EU, and whether approvals to UN Regulation No. 154 (accompanied by the needed additional EU regulatory requirements) would be accepted by the EU. The representative from the EU said the questions would be clarified in the EU legislation and stated the approvals to UN Regulation No. 154 in itself would be accepted, but evidence related to additional emission requirements not covered by UN Regulation No. 154 was needed to get EU Whole Vehicle Type approval. The representative from the UK supported the contribution from Switzerland and suggested some further discussions were needed. The Chair invited WP.29 to reconsider this issue during the November 2021 session, if need be, when the inclusion of UN Regulation No. 154 into UN Regulation No. 0 is expected.

85. The World Forum requested the secretariat to issue WP.29-184-07 as an official document for consideration at its November 2021 session, invited interested stakeholders to discuss outstanding issues and to revise the proposal accordingly prior to submission.

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.

19. GRSP adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2021/8, not amended, to further amend the current scope of UN Regulation No. 95 (Lateral collision) proposing the deletion of the newly created mass restriction for M1 vehicles, while recognising the specific conditions of heavy M1 vehicles with a high seating position. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposals, as draft Supplement 1 to the 04 series and draft Supplement 2 to the 05 of amendments to UN Regulation No. 95, for consideration and vote at the November 2021 session of WP.29 and to the AC.1.