TPT-WG18

 REPORT OF ROAD TRANSPORT HARMONISATION PROJECT GROUP

Miyazaki 17 October 2000

1.The meeting was attended by representatives of the delegation of Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; the Peoples Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; New Zealand; Philippines; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand, and the United States of America. Representatives of the International Motor Cycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA), and the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) attended as official guests.

2.The meeting was chaired by Australia.

3. Members noted the report from JASIC of progress on Phase 5 Stage 2 and commends JASIC for its efforts in the success of the RTHP Workshop.  Members also thanked Japan for hosting the Workshop. It was noted that 11 economies participated in the workshop held on 16^th October.

4  JASIC provided further details of Stage 2 to the Group and advised that consultations with individual economies participating in the project would be conducted during the remainder of the week. Draft plans are being developed for each economy and will be discussed during the week. Each economy will then take the draft home make its own plan. It is expected that the final report for stage 2 will be completed as scheduled in February 2001. Participant economies advised that they had gained benefit from the Stage 2 consultations.

5.Future Action Plan. Members recognised that the direction for future work for RTHP would be guided by the outcome for stage 2.  It was agreed that for 2001 a project proposal would be prepared for consideration by members and the automotive industry who had offered funding for work that would advance the objectives of RTHP.  Australia agreed to undertake this task. The Chair advised that a draft proposal had been submitted to the auto industry which proposes industry conduct a survey of its members to identify the impediments to trade in technical regulations.

   The Group agreed that this would be a worthwhile exercise and detailed proposals will be prepared using the BMC format.

   Japan offered to prepare a project proposal for RTHP activities in 2002 and advised that it would circulate the proposal to members before the end of 2000. This will allow consideration by members for discussion at the next RTHP meeting.

6.Automotive Dialogue. Mr. Al Warner of the U.S. Department of Commerce provided information on the activities of the Automotive Dialogue. He drew attention to the eight principles for regulation making developed by the Dialogue presented at the Workshop and requested input from RTHP members before the end of 2000. He also advised that a workshop would be held at the next Automotive Dialogue meeting to be held in Thailand in April 2001 to consider issues related to vehicle regulations and on behalf of the Automotive Dialogue requested RTHP group members to consider participation.

7.The Automotive Dialogue also proposed that a liaison mechanism between the Automotive Dialogue and the RTHP Group be established. A paper was considered by the Group to establish this liaison. The paper was accepted and will be forwarded to the Automotive Dialogue for its consideration.

8. Private sector proposals. There was extensive discussion on proposals made by IMMA and OICA that RTHP consider developing advisory lists of regulations suitable as a starting point for APEC economies not already involved in the work of WP.29. It was agreed that economies would be asked to comment on lists proposed by OICA and IMMA.

9.OICA advised that the automobile industry was in the process of developing proposals for harmonization of vehicle categories and a global certification process. Once these documents are available OICA advised that they would be forwarded to RTHP.

10. Progress of member economies on implementation of harmonized regulatory systems:

It was noted that the 1998 Agreement on Global Technical Regulation entered into force on 25^th August 2000.

Australia advised that it had acceded to the 1958 Agreement effective in April 2000 and 24 of its local regulations have been fully aligned with ECE regulations. All other local regulation are in process of review where it is expected the majority will be fully aligned with ECE regulations. This review will be completed in 2001.

Brunei Darussalam took note of the work undertaken by RTHP and would discuss it further with the relevant authorities in Brunei Darussalam.

Canada advised that it has signed the 1998 Agreement and is reviewing its legislation to adopt global technical regulations by reference.

China advised that they have signed the 1998 Agreement and as a matter of priority was amending its legal system to accept global technical regulations and the introduction of a type approval system.

Hong Kong advised that additional resources had been provided to introduce a type approval system and acceptance of ECE regulations the timing of which will be aligned with vehicle manufacturersˇ¦ ability to comply taking particular account of Japanˇ¦s progress to harmonization.

Indonesia advised that it has established a detailed implementation voluntary plan for acceptance of ECE regulations. Indonesiaˇ¦s plan has been discussed during the Phase V Stage 2 process and will result in a harmonized system once completed.

Japan advised that they had signed both the 1958 and the 1998 Agreements and a further six ECE regulations are in process for adoption by the end of fiscal 2000.

New Zealand currently recognizes 28 ECE regulation and is actively working to recognize a further 22 ECE regulations. A proposal is being put to the New Zealand Government for acceding to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements.

The Philippines has recognized the need to examine its vehicle regulatory requirements and discussions have commenced with its standards institute towards this end.

Singapore has been accepting regulations adopted in Japan, European countries and the US for its type approval system. Specifically it has adopted both ECE and US regulations for certain items. It will be reviewing and rationalizing its regulations in line with the RTHP action plan.

Chinese Taipei advised that they are implementing type approval systems that will be introduced for motorcycles in 2002 and for all light-duty vehicles in 2003.

Thailand is in the process of implement the specific action plan for Thailand developed during Phase V Stage 1.

The United States advised that two Federal Register notices have been issued this past summer in anticipation of the entry into force of the 1998 Agreement. One describes the internal public participation process that will be followed in the US in parallel with the work in Geneva. The second seeks comments on a proposed list of candidate global technical regulations.

11. Australia advised that it was seeking another economy to take the lead on RTHP. Japan requested that Australia reconsider its position and continue to lead the Group. New Zealand indicated that, in the event that Australia should not be able to continue, it is prepared to express interest in chairing the Group and is to confirm its ability to do so.

12. The RTHP Group recommended that the More Competitive Transportation Industry Steering Committee consider the following:

Note the report of the RTHP Group

Note the successful RTHP Workshop and the expectation that the final report of Phase V Stage 2 will be completed in February 2001.

Note the significant progress reported by the member economies in implementing harmonized regulatory systems for the automotive sector.

Note the intention to prepare advisory lists of regulation for APEC economies commencing the regulatory journey ie. Involvement in WP.29 activities.

RTHP Group is intending to prepare a proposed project to be funded by industry to commence in 2001.

Note that the RTHP will send to the Automotive Dialogue a proposal for liaison.

RTHP Group intends to prepare a project proposal for 2002.

Australia advised that it was seeking another economy to take the lead on RTHP. Japan requested that Australia reconsider its position and continue to lead the Group. New Zealand indicated that, in the event that Australia should not be able to continue, it is prepared to express interest in chairing the Group and is to confirm its ability to do so.