TPT-WG15

ROAD TRANSPORT HARMONISATION PROJECT GROUP AND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

Santiago, 19 April 1999

1. The meeting was attended by representatives of the delegation of Australia; Canada; Chile; the Peoples Republic of China; Japan; New Zealand; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and the United States of America. Representatives of the International Vehicle Manufacturers Association (OICA), International Motor Cycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA) and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) also attended as official guests.
   
2. The meeting was chaired by Australia.
   
3. The Chair, in welcoming the OICA, IMMA and FIA representatives to their first meeting of the RTHP Group recalled the process to obtain approval for official guest status which was initiated following a recommendation from the Seminar in Mexico City last year. He also noted that the organisations would bring a wealth of experience to the RTHP Group especially in the area of international harmonisation of vehicle regulations.
   
4. Members noted the final report of RTHP Phase IV (TPT 02/98) provided by Japan Automobile Standards Internationalisation Center (JASIC) on approval and recall arrangements in APEC economies. Phase IV also provided an update of the 71 regulations analysed in Phase III. The CD ROM containing outcomes of Phase III and IV prepared by JASIC is available on the Internet www.apectptwg.org.au where a link has been provided via Expert/Project Groups/Road Transportation/Reference papers/ Phase 3 & Phase 4 Report. Members seeking a copy of the CD-ROM should contact JASIC directly at fax: 81 3 5216 7244 or email ymizuno@blue.ocn.ne.jp.
   
5. Members discussed the 1999 consultancy TPT 02/99 RTHP Phase V Stage 1 Progress Report submitted by JASIC. TPT 02/99 is to provide guidelines for APEC economies to actively participate in the United Nations ECE Working Party 29 and working with Australia and Thailand, provide advice and develop steps to achieve effective certification systems and harmonised vehicle regulations to enable free trade for automotive product in the region. The Progress Report forwarded to BMC was noted. The consultant sought comment on the proposed methodology by 10 May 1999. It was proposed at the meeting that consideration should be given to a provision for defining vehicle categories and applicable regulations for vehicle certification or approval. It was agreed that economies should make comment directly to JASIC and circulate them to all other economies for information.
   
6. Members considered the new project proposal Phase V Stage 2 due to commence in 2000. Of the three options circulated prior to the meeting it was decided to forward the attached proposal for consideration by the Steering Committee and Plenary. Phase V Stage 2 seeks to extend the work of Stage 1 to all APEC economies.
   
7. Members noted the progress report provided by the convenor of the Steering Committee for the Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalisation (EVSL) Automotive Dialogue. The meeting of the Dialogue scheduled for 26 and 27 July 1999 in Indonesia has proposed that a representative of the TPT provide a briefing on RTHP to facilitate a discussion about how the harmonisation work can be advanced. A draft brief was prepared by RTHP Group for consideration by the More Competitive Transportation Industry Steering Committee.
   
8. Member economies provided the following information on progress to implement internationally harmonised regulations:


Australia – Consultation is underway with interested parties on the proposal to accede to the 1958 Agreement before making a recommendation to Cabinet. It is expected that the process will be completed to allow signing before the end of 1999. Recommendation for consideration by Transport Ministers has been prepared to align 19 vehicle lighting regulations with United Nations ECE Regulations.

Canada – Processes are nearing completion for Canada to accede to the Agreement on Global Technical Regulations and expect to sign in June 1999.

Peoples Republic of China – Consultation has commenced with government departments concerned and is expected to be completed by the end of April on the proposal to sign the Agreement on Global Technical Regulations. The recommendation to the Foreign Affairs Ministry will be prepared as soon as possible. Four emission regulations have been issued 10 March 1999 which are aligned with United Nations ECE Regulations 83, 24, 49 and 85.

Japan – Advised that it had acceded to the 1958 Agreement in November 1998 and intended to progressively align its domestic regulations with 30 United Nations ECE Regulations. Further, it was preparing to sign the Agreement on Global Technical Regulations with a decision to be made later this year.

New Zealand – Actively assessing the cost and resource impacts of acceding to the 1958 Agreement. It is also looking to the findings of RTHP Phase V study to assess the benefits of harmonisation of regulations, inspection and certification. Currently, New Zealand recognises regulations from the main vehicle producing economies vis Europe, USA, Japan and Australia.

United States – Advised that it expected that the Agreement on Global Technical Regulations would enter into force in October 1999 following accession by the necessary number of signatories. Further, the United States reported that it had issued a public notice and held a workshop to address how the United States intends on implementing the Agreement on Global Technical Regulations at the domestic level once it enters into force. Of specific interest to the United States is transparency and public participation of major stakeholders in the process. Copies of the notice and flowcharts outlining the process of the Global Agreement in relation to public participation in the Uswere provided to the meeting.


9. Recent activities in UN/ECE WP.29 concerning the 1958 Agreement and the 1998 Agreement (Agreement on Global Technical Regulations) were reported to the meeting where the important events of note were Japan’s accession to the 1958 Agreement and the opening for signature of the Agreement on Global, Technical Regulations. Further, a proposed glopbal technical regulation for passenger car tyres (GTS 2000) was submitted by the international tyre manufacturers. Other areas under active consideration include installation of lighting, passenger car braking, child restraints, side impact, washers and wipers, windscreen demisting and heavy duty diesel emissions.
   
10. Members received submissions from the representatives of OICA, IMMA and FIA. Industry agreed that the general thrust of RTHP activity was consistent with work being conducted in the international fora but drew attention to the extended period necessary to develop and agree on harmonised requirements. Industry advised that due to the time involved WP.29 may not provide the necessary solutions to meet the Bogor Declaration objectives. From the consumers point of view, the FIA representative advised that it supported the concept of harmonisation which provided the potential for improved road safety and environmental protection at the lowest cost.
    
11. The meeting was advised that Australia and Thailand had agreed on a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Conformity Assessment for Automotive Product which is to be signed in Sydney 22 April 1999. The MRA is based on the model MRA developed by RTHP Group.
    
12. Members agreed that it is important to maintain the regulatory information contained in the Phase III and IV reports to ensure the information remains relevant. The RTHP addressed this in the short term through inclusion of an update of the regulatory information included in Phase IV in the 1998 consultancy. Australia agreed to circulate detailed proposals to update Phase III and Phase IV data on the website.
    
13. The RTHP group recommended that the More Competitive Transportation Industry Steering Committee consider the following:

• Note the report of the RTHP group.

• Note the final report of the Consultant for TPT 02/98.

• Note the 1^st progress report for the TPT 02/99 consultancy.
  
• Endorse the New Project Proposal RTHP Phase V Stage 2 for
  consideration by Plenary.
  
• Agree the RTHP Group provide a briefing to the EVSL
  Automotive Dialogue at its meeting in Indonesia on 26 and 27 July
  1999.

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