This project is being developed within the framework of a working group of UN Wp.29, the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Technical Regulations. The 1958 agreement was extended to create harmonised rules not only for systems or components, but for the whole vehicle. To this end, an ECE 0 regulation is formulated, which describes a complete approval of the vehicle. Since 1998, 13 global technical regulations (gtrs) have been developed in UNECE technical committees. These concern, for example, door locks and door restraint components – GTR1, head restraints – GTR 7, electronic stability control systems – GTR 8, the proposal to develop a global technical regulation for exhaust emissions from heavy-duty vehicles – Annex to GTR 4, pedestrian safety – GTR 9 and requirements for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles – GTR 13. In order to facilitate the use of IWVTA by developing countries and thus make accession to the agreement more attractive, the draft currently under discussion leaves the parties with the possibility of adopting a more flexible approach to the stringency and scope of requirements in each country. Although this does not initially allow for full mutual recognition of authorisations, it is a first step in this direction. Consequently, the first stage would include an authorisation with limited recognition in the event that it certifies only a lower level of technical characteristics. As a result, it may not be possible to validate compliance with individual regulations. On the other hand, there may also be universal approvals that certify compliance with all requirements (at the highest level). The great advantage over the EU type-approval already in practice today is that the EEC regulations would apply in a much wider field than the European Union.

A country may become a party to one or more agreements administered by WP.29 by depositing with the Secretary-General of the United Nations an instrument of accession in accordance with the following articles: Article 6 of the 1958 Convention; article 9 of the 1998 Agreement; Article 4 of the 1997 Agreement. (The text of the above-mentioned agreements is reproduced in Annexes II, III and IV of WP.29 "WP.29 How it works – How to accede to them" here: www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29pub.html) The Un Compendium of Candidate United Nations Global Technical Regulations lists all national or regional regulations that are eligible as UN gtrs for harmonization and adoption. Any Contracting Party to the 1998 Convention may submit to the Executive Committee a request for the inclusion in the Compendium of Candidates of a technical regulation which it has applied, applied or adopted for future application. In accordance with Article 6(2) of the Convention, all United Nations regulations annexed to the 1958 Convention are candidates for harmonisation and adoption as United Nations Cod. For more information, in addition to that listed in the Compendium of Candidate Countries, see Article 5 of the 1998 Convention.The Compendium of Candidates is available on the following Website: www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29glob_candidate. The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations is a working party (WP.29)[1] of the Sustainable Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Its task is to manage the multilateral conventions on technical regulations for the construction, registration of wheeled vehicles and their regular roadworthiness tests signed in 1958, 1997 and 1998, and to implement a kind of vehicle regulation within the framework of these three conventions for the elaboration and amendment of UN regulations, United Nations global technical regulations and United Nations rules. WP.29 was established on 6 June 1952 as a Working Party on the Construction of Vehicles, a subsidiary body of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In March 2000, WP.29 became the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). The objective of WP.29 is to initiate and pursue measures for global harmonization or the development of technical regulations for vehicles. These rules provide for uniform conditions for regular roadworthiness tests and strengthen economic relations throughout the world and aim to: - improve vehicle safety;- protect the environment;- promote energy efficiency and increase anti-theft performance. WP.29 currently manages three United Nations conventions, namely:1.

The United Nations Convention on the Adoption of Uniform Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which May Be Fitted and/or Used in Wheeled Vehicles of 1958 and the Conditions for Mutual Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Regulations;2. 1998 United Nations Convention on the Establishment of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts That May Be Installed and/or Used in Wheeled Vehicles;3. United Nations Convention of 1997 on the Adoption of Uniform Conditions for the Regular Roadworthiness Test of Wheeled Vehicles and the Mutual Recognition of Such Inspections. (For more information on the overall role of WP.29 and its organization, see either the WP.29 publication "WP.29 How it works – How to join it" at: www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29pub.htmlor on the WP.29 homepage: www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm) The 1958 Agreement on the Technical Harmonization of Vehicles was introduced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Agreement provides the legal and administrative framework for the uniform definition of UN international regulations The UNECE Transport Division is responsible for the day-to-day management of the activities of WP.29 and its subsidiary bodies. .