The draft agenda for the 30th meeting of the GRE Task Force on Substitutes / Retrofits, scheduled for 22 September 2026 from 13:00 to 15:30 CEST online, addresses organisational matters, adoption of the agenda, and reports from the 29th meeting. The agenda covers proposals for R.E.5 including H11 LEDr, H8 LEDr, H16 LEDr, and HB4 LEDr entered-into-force provisions, front fog types completing H10 work, high beam types covering HIR2, HB3, and H9, low beam types, clarification of R37 requirements for LEDr, enforcement and market surveillance matters, and preparation of submissions to GRE95 including category sheets and status reports.

The Task Force on LED Substitutes and Retrofits reports on establishing a type-approval framework for LED replacements to enable safe technology transition from incandescent to LED lighting for cars-in-use. Step 1 completion has resulted in growing LED replacement category sheets in RE5, with national and UN approvals enabled. Step 2 requires improved market surveillance, as unsafe non-approved products reach roads and some R37-approved products show non-compliance. The task force proposes waiting for front fog cycle completion and applying lessons learnt before enforcing the high beam package, addressing keying deficiencies and inadequate warnings on unapproved products. Market surveillance control points span approval, import, point of sales, PTI, and roadside enforcement.

Input provided by experts from the GRE TF S/R concerning market surveillance needs for LED replacement light sources. LED replacement light sources enable technology transition from incandescent to LED for vehicles in operation, offering longer lifetime, higher vibration resistance, and lower power consumption. Type-approval framework for LEDr has been established through national approvals and UN R37 approvals. Market surveillance must be improved to ensure only safe, compliant LEDr with type approval are used on public roads. Products without type approval should be offered with correct consumer information and clear restriction for off-road use only. Authorities should remove non-compliant products without type approval if used on public roads.

The 29th meeting of the GRE Task Force on Substitutes/Retrofits is scheduled for 13 July 2026, 13:00–14:00 CEST, held online via Teams. The agenda includes discussion of the way forward, review of GRE94 report, proposals for R.E.5 covering H11 LEDr, H8 LEDr, H16 LEDr, HB4 LEDr, front fog types including H10, high beam types including HIR2, HB3, and H9, low beam types, clarification of R37 requirements for LEDr, enforcement and market surveillance, preparation and submissions to GRE95, any other business, and next meetings.

LED replacement light sources without type approval are being sold online and offline and are unsafe for public roads; vehicles equipped with such products would fail PTI. LED replacement light sources with type approval are available either at national level or according to UN R37, and are safe and legal for public roads; vehicles equipped with approved LED replacement light sources shall NOT fail PTI. Approval marking on installed light sources is not accessible during PTI; verification may involve a sticker on headlamp housing, type approval documents, or packaging, with removal of the light source as a last resort to verify the approval marking.