The UN World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations oversees three international Agreements for the development of internationally recognized regulations concerning motor-vehicle safety and environmental performance. These Agreements are supported by Resolutions that define vehicle categories, provide specifications for test tools, and address other common technical matters.

Global Technical Regulations (GTR) establish common requirements and assessment procedures for verifying compliance for application worldwide.

UN Regulations establish uniform requirements and assessment procedures for use under type-approval systems. These regulations are applied within a framework for the international recognition of national approvals granted in accordance with the regulations.

UN Rules establish common requirements and procedures for periodical technical inspections of motor vehicles and for the international recognition of inspection certificates issues pursuant to the UN Rules.

WP.29 also initiates new rulemaking activities towards developing regulations and adapting current regulations to changes in motor-vehicle technologies, and addresses new challenges and emerging topics relevant to motor-vehicle safety and environmental performance.