AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHING OF GLOBALTECHNICAL REGULATIONS FOR WHEELED VEHICLES,
EQUIPMENT AND PARTS WHICH CAN BE FITTED
AND/OR BE USED ON WHEELED VEHICLES____________________
ACCORD CONCERNANT L'ETABLISSEMENT DE REGLEMENTSTECHNIQUES MONDIAUX APPLICABLES AUX VEHICULES AROUES, AINSI QU'AUX EQUIPEMENTS ET PIECES QUI PEUVENTETRE MONTES ET/OU UTILISES SUR LES VEHICULES A ROUES____________________
E?'9!S+=3+ ? % % + ) + = 3 3 '9?#!9[=YM
G+M=3Q+E73M AC!%39 ) 9 a 7?9+E=YM
GC!=EA?CG=YM E C + ) E G % , AC+);+G?%?#?CI)?%!=3a 3 Q ! E G + 5 , 7?G?CY+ ;?'IG #YG[
IEG!=?%9+=Y 3 /393 3EA?9[1?%!=Y =! 7?9+E=YM
GC!=EA?CG=YM EC+)EG%!MAGREEMENT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHING OF
GLOBAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONS FOR WHEELEDVEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND PARTS WHICH CAN BE
FITTED AND/OR BE USED ON WHEELED VEHICLES- 2 -AGREEMENTCONCERNING THE ESTABLISHING OF GLOBAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONSFOR WHEELED VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT AND PARTS WHICH CAN BE
FITTED AND/OR BE USED ON WHEELED VEHICLESPREAMBLE
THE CONTRACTING PARTIES,HAVING DECIDED to adopt an Agreement to establish a process for promoting the development of global
technical regulations ensuring high levels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency and anti-theftperformance of Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be used on Wheeled Vehicles;
HAVING DECIDED that such process shall also promote the harmonization of existing technical regulations,recognizing the right of subnational, national and regional authorities to adopt and maintain technical regulations in theareas of health, safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency and anti-theft performance that are more stringent
than those established at the global level;
HAVING AUTHORIZATION to enter into such an Agreement under paragraph 1(a) of the Terms of Reference of
the UN/ECE and Chapter XIII of the Rules of Procedure of the UN/ECE, Rule 50;
RECOGNIZING that this Agreement does not prejudice the rights and obligations of a Contracting Party under
existing international agreements on health, safety and environmental protection;
RECOGNIZING that this Agreement does not prejudice the rights and obligations of a Contracting Party under
the agreements under the World Trade Organization (WTO), including the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade(TBT), and intending to establish global technical regulations under this agreement, as a basis for their technicalregulations in a manner consistent with these agreements;
INTENDING that Contracting Parties to this Agreement use the global technical regulations established under
this Agreement as a basis for their technical regulations;
RECOGNIZING the importance to public health, safety and welfare of continuously improving and seeking highlevels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency and anti-theft performance of wheeledvehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles, and the potential value tointernational trade, consumer choice and product affordability of increasing convergences in existing and futuretechnical regulations and their related standards;
RECOGNIZING that governments have the right to seek and implement improvements in the level of health,safety and environmental protection, and to determine whether the global technical regulations established under thisAgreement are suitable for their needs;
RECOGNIZING the important harmonization work already carried out under the 1958 Agreement;
RECOGNIZING the interest and expertise in different geographic regions regarding safety, environmental, energy
and anti-theft problems and methods of solving those problems, and the value of that interest and expertise indeveloping global technical regulations to aid in achieving those improvements and in minimizing divergences;
DESIRING to promote the adoption of established global technical regulations in developing countries, taking
into account the special issues and circumstances for those countries, and in particular the least developed of them;- 3 -DESIRING that the technical regulations applied by the Contracting Parties be given due consideration throughtransparent procedures in developing global technical regulations, and that such consideration include comparative
analyses of benefits and cost effectiveness;
RECOGNIZING that establishing global technical regulations providing high levels of protection will encourage
individual countries to conclude that those Regulations will provide the protection and performance needed within theirjurisdiction;
RECOGNIZING the impact of the quality of vehicle fuels on the performance of vehicle environmental controls,
human health, and fuel efficiency; andRECOGNIZING that the use of transparent procedures is of particular importance in developing global technicalregulations under this Agreement and that this development process must be compatible with the regulatory
development processes of the Contracting Parties to this Agreement;
HAVE AGREED as follows:
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
1.1.

The purpose of this Agreement is:1.1.1.

To establish a global process by which Contracting Parties from all regions of the world can jointly
develop global technical regulations regarding the safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency, andanti-theft performance of wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeledvehicles;

1.1.2.

To ensure that, in developing global technical regulations, due and objective consideration is given to
the existing technical regulations of Contracting Parties, and to the UN/ECE Regulations;1.1.3.

To ensure that objective consideration is given to the analysis of best available technology, relative
benefits and cost effectiveness as appropriate in developing global technical regulations;1.1.4.

To ensure that the procedures used in developing global technical regulations are transparent;

1.1.5.

To achieve high levels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency, and anti-theftperformance within the global community, and to ensure that actions under this Agreement do not promote, or
result in, a lowering of these levels within the jurisdiction of Contracting Parties, including the subnational
level;

1.1.6.

To reduce technical barriers to international trade through harmonizing existing technical regulationsof Contracting Parties, and UN/ECE Regulations, and developing new global technical regulations governing
safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency and anti-theft performance of wheeled vehicles, equipment
and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles, consistent with the achievement of highlevels of safety and environment protection and the other above-stated purposes; and1.1.7.

To ensure that, where alternative levels of stringency are needed to facilitate the regulatory activities
of certain countries, in particular developing countries, such needs are taken into consideration in developing
and establishing global technical regulations.

- 4 -

1.2.

This Agreement is to operate in parallel with the 1958 Agreement, without affecting the institutional
autonomy of either Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
CONTRACTING PARTIES AND CONSULTATIVE STATUS

2.1.

Countries that are members of the Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), regional economic
integration organizations that are set up by ECE member countries and countries that are admitted to the ECE in
a consultative capacity in accordance with paragraph 8 of the ECE's Terms of Reference, may become
Contracting Parties to this Agreement.

2.2.

Countries that are members of the United Nations and that participate in certain activities of the ECE inaccordance with paragraph 11 of the ECE?s Terms of Reference, and regional economic integration
organizations set up by such countries, may become Contracting Parties to this Agreement.

2.3.

Any specialized agency and any organization, including intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations, that have been granted consultative status by the Economic and Social Council of
the United Nations, may participate in that capacity in the deliberations of any Working Party duringconsideration of any matter of particular concern to that agency or organization.
ARTICLE 3
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

3.1.

The representatives of Contracting Parties shall constitute the Executive Committee of this Agreement
and shall meet at least annually in that capacity.

3.2.

The Rules of Procedure of the Executive Committee are set forth in Annex B to this Agreement.

3.3.

The Executive Committee shall:

3.3.1.

be responsible for the implementation of this Agreement, including the setting of priorities for activity
under this Agreement;

3.3.2.

consider all recommendations and reports by Working Parties regarding the establishment of global
technical regulations under this Agreement; and3.3.3.

fulfil such other functions as may be appropriate under this Agreement.

3.4.

The Executive Committee shall have the final authority to decide whether to list regulations in theCompendium of Candidate global technical regulations and to establish global technical regulations under thisAgreement.

3.5.

The Executive Committee shall, in discharging its functions, use information from all relevant sources
when the Committee deems it appropriate to do so.
ARTICLE 4
CRITERIA FOR TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

- 5 -

4.1.

To be listed under Article 5 or established under Article 6, a technical regulation shall meet thefollowing criteria:

4.1.1.

provide a clear description of the wheeled vehicles, equipment and/or parts which can be fitted and/or
be used on wheeled vehicles and which are subject to the regulation.

4.1.2.
4.1.2.1.

contain requirements that:provide for high levels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency or anti-theftperformance; and4.1.2.2.

wherever appropriate, are expressed in terms of performance instead of design characteristics.

4.1.3.

include:4.1.3.1.

the test method by which compliance with the regulation is to be demonstrated;

4.1.3.2.

for regulations to be listed under Article 5, where appropriate, a clear description of approval or
certification markings and/or labels requisite for type approval and conformity of production or for manufacturer
self-certification requirements; and4.1.3.3.

if applicable, a recommended minimum period of lead time, based upon considerations ofreasonableness and practicability, that a Contracting Party should provide before requiring compliance.

4.2.

A global technical regulation may specify alternative non-global levels of stringency or performance,
and appropriate test procedures, where needed to facilitate the regulatory activities of certain countries, inparticular developing countries.
ARTICLE 5
COMPENDIUM OF CANDIDATE GLOBAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

5.1.

5.2.

A compendium of technical regulations of Contracting Parties other than UN/ECE Regulations that are
candidates for harmonization or adoption as global technical regulations (to be known as the Compendium of
Candidates) shall be created and maintained.
Listing technical regulations in the Compendium of Candidates
Any Contracting Party may submit a request to the Executive Committee for the listing in theCompendium of Candidates of any technical regulation that such Contracting Party has applied, is applying or
has adopted for future application.

5.2.1.

The request specified in paragraph 5.2. shall contain:

5.2.1.1.

a copy of such regulation;

5.2.1.2.

5.2.1.3.

any available technical documentation supporting such regulation, including documentation
concerning best available technology, relative benefits, and cost effectiveness; andthe identification of any known existing or imminent relevant international voluntary standards.

- 6 -5.2.2.

The Executive Committee shall consider all requests that satisfy the requirements of Article 4 andparagraph 5.2.1. of this Article. The technical regulation shall be listed in the Compendium of Candidates if
supported by an affirmative vote in accordance with paragraph 7.1. of Article 7 of Annex B. The documentation
submitted with the request for that regulation shall be appended to the listed technical regulation.

5.2.3.

The requested regulation shall be considered to be listed by the Secretary-General on the date on
which it is supported by an affirmative vote under paragraph 5.2.2. of this Article.

5.3.

Removing listed technical regulations from the Compendium of Candidates
A listed technical regulation shall be removed from the Compendium of Candidates either:

5.3.1.

upon the establishment in the Global Registry of a global technical regulation embodying productrequirements addressing the same elements of performance or design characteristics as the listed technicalregulation;

5.3.2.

at the end of the 5-year period following the regulation's listing under this Article, and at the end ofeach subsequent 5-year period, unless the Executive Committee reaffirms, by an affirmative vote in accordancewith paragraph 7.1. of Article 7 of Annex B, the listing of the technical regulation in the Compendium of
Candidates; or

5.3.3.

in response to a written request from the Contracting Party at whose request the technical regulation
was originally listed. Such request shall include the bases for the removal of the regulation.

5.4.

Availability of documents
All documents considered by the Executive Committee under this Article shall be publicly available.
ARTICLE 6
REGISTRY OF GLOBAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

6.1.

6.2.

A registry shall be created and maintained for the global technical regulations developed andestablished under this Article. The registry shall be known as the Global Registry.
Establishing global technical regulations in the Global Registry through harmonization of existing
regulations
A Contracting Party may submit a proposal to develop a harmonized global technical regulation
concerning elements of performance or design characteristics addressed either by technical regulations listed in
the Compendium of Candidates, or by any UN/ECE Regulations, or both.

6.2.1.

The proposal specified in paragraph 6.2. shall contain:

6.2.1.1.

an explanation of the objective of the proposed global technical regulation.

6.2.1.2.

a narrative description or, if available, the draft text of the proposed global technical regulation;

6.2.1.3.

available documentation that may facilitate the analysis of the issues to be addressed in the reportrequired by paragraph 6.2.4.2.1. of this Article;- 7 -6.2.1.4.

a list of all technical regulations in the Compendium of Candidates, and any UN/ECE Regulations, that
address the same elements of performance or design characteristics to be addressed by the proposed global
technical regulation; and6.2.1.5.

the identification of any known existing relevant international voluntary standards.

6.2.2.

Each proposal specified in paragraph 6.2.1. of this Article shall be submitted to the Executive
Committee.

6.2.3.

The Executive Committee shall not refer to any Working Party any proposal that it determines does notsatisfy the requirements of Article 4 and paragraph 6.2.1. of this Article. It may refer all other proposals to an
appropriate Working Party.

6.2.4.

In response to a proposal referred to it for developing a global technical regulation throughharmonization, the Working Party shall use transparent procedures to:

6.2.4.1.

develop recommendations regarding a global technical regulation by:

6.2.4.1.1. giving consideration to the objective of the proposed global technical regulation and the need for establishingalternative levels of stringency or performance;
6.2.4.1.2. reviewing all technical regulations that are listed in the Compendium of Candidates, and any UN/ECE
Regulations, that address the same elements of performance;
6.2.4.1.3. reviewing any documentation that is appended to the regulations specified in paragraph 6.2.4.1.2. of this
Article;6.2.4.1.4. reviewing any available assessments of functional equivalence relevant to the consideration of the proposed
global technical regulation, including assessments of related standards;
6.2.4.1.5. verifying whether the global technical regulation under development satisfies the stated objective of theregulation and the criteria in Article 4; and6.2.4.1.6. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958
Agreement.
6.2.4.2.

submit to the Executive Committee:

6.2.4.2.1. a written report that presents its recommendation regarding the global technical regulation, includes alltechnical data and information that were considered in the development of its recommendation, describes its
consideration of the information specified in paragraph 6.2.4.1. of this Article, and sets forth the rationale for
its recommendations, including an explanation for rejecting any alternative regulatory requirements andapproaches considered; and6.2.4.2.2. the text of any recommended global technical regulation.
6.2.5.
6.2.5.1.

The Executive Committee shall, using transparent procedures:
determine whether the recommendations regarding the global technical regulation, and the report are
based upon a sufficient and thorough performance of the activities specified in paragraph 6.2.4.1. of this Article.
If the Executive Committee determines that the recommendations, report and/or the text of the recommended- 8 -global technical regulation, if any, are inadequate, it shall return the regulation and report to the Working Party
for revision or additional work.
6.2.5.2.

consider the establishment of a recommended global technical regulation in accordance with theprocedures set forth in paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B. A consensus vote by the Executive Committee infavour of the regulation shall establish the Regulation in the Global Registry.

6.2.6.

The global technical regulation shall be considered to be established in the Global Registry on the dateof the consensus vote by the Executive Committee in favour of the regulation.

6.2.7.

The Secretariat shall, upon the establishment of a global technical regulation by the Executive
Committee, append copies of all relevant documentation, including the proposal submitted pursuant toparagraph 6.2.1. of this Article and the recommendations and report required by paragraph 6.2.4.2.1. of this
Article, to that regulation.

6.3.

Establishing new global technical regulations in the Global Registry
A Contracting Party may submit a proposal to develop a new global technical regulation concerning
elements of performance or design characteristics not addressed by technical regulations in the Compendium of
Candidates or UN/ECE Regulations.

6.3.1.

The proposal specified in paragraph 6.3. shall contain:

6.3.1.1.

an explanation of the objective of the proposed new global technical regulation, based on objective
data to the extent possible;

6.3.1.2.

a narrative description or, if available, the draft text of the proposed new global technical regulation;

6.3.1.3.

any available documentation that may facilitate the analysis of the issues to be addressed in the reportrequired by paragraph 6.3.4.2.1. of this Article; and6.3.1.4.

the identification of any known existing relevant international voluntary standards.

6.3.2.

Each proposal specified in paragraph 6.3.1. of this Article shall be submitted to the Executive
Committee.

6.3.3.

The Executive Committee shall not refer to any Working Party any proposal that it determines does notsatisfy the requirements of Article 4 and paragraph 6.3.1. of this Article. It may refer all other proposals to an
appropriate Working Party.

6.3.4.

In response to a proposal referred to it for developing a new global technical regulation, the Working
Party shall use transparent procedures to:

6.3.4.1.

develop recommendations regarding a new global technical regulation by:

6.3.4.1.1. giving consideration to the objective of the proposed new global technical regulation and the need forestablishing alternative levels of stringency or performance;
6.3.4.1.2. considering technical feasibility;
6.3.4.1.3. considering economic feasibility;- 9 -6.3.4.1.4. examining benefits, including those of any alternative regulatory requirements and approaches considered;
6.3.4.1.5. comparing potential cost effectiveness of the recommended regulation to that of the alternative regulatory
requirements and approaches considered;
6.3.4.1.6. verifying whether the new global technical regulation under development satisfies the stated objective of theRegulation and the criteria in Article 4; and6.3.4.1.7. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the1958 Agreement.
6.3.4.2.

submit to the Executive Committee:

6.3.4.2.1. a written report that presents its recommendation regarding the new global technical regulation, includes alltechnical data and information that were considered in the development of its recommendation, describes its
consideration of the information specified in paragraph 6.3.4.1. of this Article, and sets forth the rationale for
its recommendations, including an explanation for rejecting any alternative regulatory requirements andapproaches considered; and6.3.4.2.2. the text of any recommended new global technical regulation.
6.3.5.

The Executive Committee shall, using transparent procedures:

6.3.5.1.

determine whether the recommendations regarding the new global technical regulation and the reportare based upon a sufficient and thorough performance of the activities specified in paragraph 6.3.4.1. of this
Article. If the Executive Committee determines that the recommendations, report and/or the text of therecommended new global technical regulation, if any, are inadequate, it shall return the regulation and report to
the Working Party for revision or additional work.

6.3.5.2.

consider the establishment of a recommended new global technical regulation in accordance with theprocedures set forth in paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B. A consensus vote by the Executive Committee infavour of the regulation shall establish the Regulation in the Global Registry.

6.3.6.

The global technical regulation shall be considered to be established in the Global Registry on the dateof the consensus vote by the Executive Committee in favour of the regulation.

6.3.7.

The Secretariat shall, upon the establishment of a new global technical regulation by the Executive
Committee, append copies of all relevant documentation, including the proposal submitted pursuant toparagraph 6.3.1. of this Article and the recommendations and report required by paragraph 6.3.4.2.1. of this
Article, to that Regulation.

6.4.

Amending established global technical regulations
The process for amending any global technical regulation established in the Global Registry under this
Article shall be the procedures specified in paragraph 6.3. of this Article for establishing a new global technicalregulation in the Global Registry.

6.5.

Availability of documents
All documents considered or generated by the Working Party in recommending global technical- 10 -

regulations under this Article shall be publicly available.
ARTICLE 7ADOPTION, AND NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION,
OF ESTABLISHED GLOBAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
7.1.

A Contracting Party that votes in favour of establishing a global technical regulation under Article 6 ofthis Agreement shall be obligated to submit the technical Regulation to the process used by that Contracting
Party to adopt such a technical Regulation into its own laws or regulations and shall seek to make a final
decision expeditiously.

7.2.

A Contracting Party that adopts an established global technical regulation into its own laws or
regulations shall notify the Secretary-General in writing of the date on which it will begin applying that
Regulation. The notification shall be provided within 60 days after its decision to adopt the Regulation. If theestablished global technical regulation contains more than one level of stringency or performance, thenotification shall specify which of those levels of stringency or performance is selected by the Contracting
Party.

7.3.

A Contracting Party that is specified in paragraph 7.1. of this Article and that decides not to adopt theestablished global technical regulation into its own laws or regulations, shall notify the Secretary-General inwriting of its decision and the basis for its decision. The notification shall be provided within sixty (60) days
after its decision.

7.4.

A Contracting Party that is specified in paragraph 7.1. of this Article and that has not, by the end of
the one-year period after the date of the establishment of the Regulation in the Global Registry, either adopted
that technical regulation or decided not to adopt the Regulation into its own laws or regulations, shall provide areport on the status of the Regulation in its domestic process. A status report shall be submitted for eachsubsequent one-year period if neither of those actions has been taken by the end of that period. Each reportrequired by this paragraph shall:- 11 -

7.4.1include a description of the steps taken during the past year to submit the Regulation and make a final
decision and an indication of the anticipated date of such a decision; and7.4.2.

be submitted to the Secretary-General not later than 60 days after the end of the one-year period forwhich the report is submitted.

7.5.

A Contracting Party that accepts products that comply with an established global technical regulation
without adopting that Regulation into its own laws or regulations shall notify the Secretary-General in writing of
the date on which it began to accept such products. The Contracting Party shall provide the notification withinsixty (60) days after the beginning of such acceptance. If the established global technical regulation contains
more than one level of stringency or performance, the notification shall specify which of those levels ofstringency or performance is selected by the Contracting Party.

7.6.

A Contracting Party that has adopted into its own laws or regulations an established global technicalregulation may decide to rescind or amend the adopted Regulation. Prior to making that decision, theContracting Party shall notify the Secretary-General in writing of its intent and the reasons for considering that
action. This notice provision shall also apply to a Contracting Party that has accepted products underparagraph 7.5. and that intends to cease accepting such products. The Contracting Party shall notify the
Secretary-General of its decision to adopt any amended or new regulation within 60 days after that decision.
Upon request, the Contracting Party shall promptly provide copies of such amended or new regulation to other
Contracting Parties.
ARTICLE 8
ISSUE RESOLUTION

8.1.

Questions concerning the provisions of an established global technical regulation shall be referred to
the Executive Committee for resolution.

8.2.

Issues between two or more Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of thisAgreement shall, so far as possible, be resolved through consultation or negotiation between or among them.
Where this process fails to resolve the issues, the Contracting Parties concerned may agree to request the
Executive Committee to resolve the issue as provided in paragraph 7.3. of Article 7 of Annex B.
ARTICLE 9
BECOMING A CONTRACTING PARTY

9.1.

9.1.1.
9.1.2.

Countries and regional economic integration organizations specified in Article 2 may become
Contracting Parties to this Agreement by either:signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval;
signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance orapproval;

9.1.3.

acceptance; or

9.1.4.

accession.

9.2.

The instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the- 12 -

Secretary-General.
9.3

Upon becoming a Contracting Party:

9.3.1.

after this Agreement has entered into force, each country or regional integration organization shallgive notification in accordance with Article 7 as to which, if any, global technical regulation(s) establishedpursuant to Article 6 it will adopt, and as to any decision to accept products that comply with any of those
global technical regulations, without adopting those Regulations into its own laws or regulations. If theestablished global technical regulation contains more than one level of stringency or performance, thenotification shall specify which of those levels of stringency or performance is adopted or accepted by theContracting Party.

9.3.2.

each regional economic integration organization shall declare in matters within its competence that its
Member States have transferred powers in fields covered by this Agreement, including the power to makebinding decisions on their Member States.

9.4.

Regional economic integration organizations that are Contracting Parties shall cease being Contracting
Parties when they lose the powers declared in accordance with paragraph 9.3.2. of this Article and shall informthe Secretary-General thereof.
ARTICLE 10
SIGNATURE

10.1.

This Agreement shall be open for signature beginning 25 June 1998.

10.2.

This Agreement shall remain open for signature until its entry into force.
ARTICLE 11
ENTRY INTO FORCE

11.1.

This Agreement and its Annexes, which constitute integral parts of the Agreement, shall enter into
force on the thirtieth (30) day following the date on which a minimum of five (5) countries and/or regional
economic integration organizations have become Contracting Parties pursuant to Article 9. This minimum of
five (5) must include the European Community, Japan, and the United States of America.

11.2.

If, however, paragraph 11.1 of this Article is not satisfied fifteen (15) months after the date specified inparagraph 10.1., then this Agreement and its Annexes, which constitute integral parts of the Agreement, shallenter into force on the thirtieth (30) day following the date on which a minimum of eight (8) countries and/or
regional economic integration organizations have become Contracting Parties pursuant to Article 9. Such dateof entry into force shall not be earlier than sixteen (16) months after the date specified in paragraph 10.1. At
least one (1) of these eight (8) must be either the European Community, Japan or the United States of America.

11.3.

For any country or regional economic integration organization that becomes a Contracting Party to theAgreement after its entry into force, this Agreement shall enter into force sixty (60) days after the date that suchcountry or regional economic integration organization deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance,
approval or accession.

- 13 -ARTICLE 12
WITHDRAWAL FROM AGREEMENT
12.1.

A Contracting Party may withdraw from this Agreement by notifying the Secretary-General in writing.

12.2.

Withdrawal from this Agreement by any Contracting Party shall take effect one year after the date on
which the Secretary-General receives notification pursuant to paragraph 12.1. of this Article.
ARTICLE 13
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT

13.1.

A Contracting Party may propose amendments to this Agreement and the Annexes to this Agreement.
Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Secretary-General, who shall transmit them to all Contracting
Parties.

13.2.

A proposed amendment transmitted in accordance with paragraph 13.1. of this Article shall beconsidered by the Executive Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

13.3.

If there is a consensus vote in favour of the amendment by the Contracting Parties present and voting,it shall be communicated by the Executive Committee to the Secretary-General who shall then circulate theamendment to all Contracting Parties.

13.4.

An amendment circulated under paragraph 13.3. of this Article shall be deemed to be accepted by all
Contracting Parties if no Contracting Party expresses an objection within a period of six (6) months after thedate of such circulation. If no such objection has been expressed, the amendment shall enter into force for all
Contracting Parties three (3) months after the expiry of the period of the six (6) months referred in thisparagraph.

13.5

The Secretary-General shall, as soon as possible, notify all Contracting Parties whether an objection to
the proposed amendment has been expressed. If such objection has been expressed, the amendment shall bedeemed not to have been accepted, and shall be of no effect whatever.
ARTICLE 14
DEPOSITARYThe Depositary of this Agreement shall be the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In addition to other depositary
functions, the Secretary-General shall, as soon as possible, notify the Contracting Parties of:
14.1.

the listing or removing of technical regulations under Article 5.

14.2.

the establishing or amending of global technical regulations under Article 6.

14.3.

notifications received in accordance with Article 7.

14.4.

signatures, acceptances, and accessions in accordance with Articles 9 and 10.

14.5.

notifications received in accordance with Article 9.

- 14 -

14.6.

the dates on which this Agreement shall enter into force for Contracting Parties in accordance with
Article 11.

14.7.

notifications of withdrawal from this Agreement received in accordance with Article 12.

14.8.

the date of entry into force of any amendment to this Agreement in accordance with Article 13.

14.9.

notifications received in accordance with Article 15 regarding territories.
ARTICLE 15
EXTENSION OF AGREEMENT TO TERRITORIES

15.1.

This Agreement shall extend to any territory or territories of a Contracting Party for whose
international relations such Contracting Party is responsible, unless the Contracting Party otherwise specifies,
prior to entry into force of the agreement for that Contracting Party.

15.2.

Any Contracting Party may denounce this Agreement separately for any such territory or territories inaccordance with Article 12.
ARTICLE 16
SECRETARIATThe Secretariat of this Agreement shall be the Executive Secretary of the UN/ECE. The Executive Secretary shall carryout the following secretariat functions:
16.1.
16.2.

16.3.

prepare the meetings of the Executive Committee and the Working Parties;
transmit to the Contracting Parties reports and other information received in accordance with theprovisions of this Agreement; anddischarge the functions assigned by the Executive Committee.

- 15 -

Annex A
Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
1.

With regard to the global technical regulations developed under this Agreement, the term "accept"
means the action by a Contracting Party of allowing the entry of products that comply with a global technicalregulation into its market without having adopted that global technical regulation into its respective laws andregulations.

2.

With regard to the global technical regulations developed under this Agreement, the term "adopt"means the promulgation of a global technical regulation into the laws and regulations of a Contracting Party.

3.

With regard to the global technical regulations developed under this Agreement, the term "apply"
means the action of requiring compliance with a global technical regulation by a Contracting Party as of acertain date; in other words, the effective date of the regulation within a Contracting Party's jurisdiction.

4.

The term "Article" means an article of this Agreement.

5.

The term "consensus vote" means a vote on a matter in which no Contracting Party present andvoting objects to the matter in accordance with paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B.

6.

The term "Contracting Party" means any country, or regional economic integration organization, thatis a Contracting Party to this Agreement.

7.

The term "equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles" means
equipment or parts whose characteristics have a bearing on safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency,
or anti-theft performance. Such equipment and parts include, but are not limited to, exhaust systems, tyres,engines, acoustic shields, anti-theft alarms, warning devices, and child restraint systems.

8.

The term "established global technical regulation" means a global technical regulation that has beenplaced on the Global Registry in accordance with this Agreement.

9.

The term "listed technical regulation" means a national or regional technical regulation that has beenplaced on the Compendium of Candidates in accordance with this Agreement.

10.

The term "manufacturer self-certification" means a Contracting Party's legal requirement that amanufacturer of wheeled vehicles, equipment and/or parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeledvehicles must certify that each vehicle, item of equipment or part that the manufacturer introduces into
commerce satisfies specific technical requirements.

11.

The term "regional economic integration organization" means an organization which is constituted by,
and composed of, sovereign countries, and which has competence in respect of matters covered by thisAgreement, including the authority to make decisions binding on all of its Member Countries in respect of thosematters.

12.
13.

The term "Secretary-General" means the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The term "transparent procedures" means procedures designed to promote the public awareness ofand participation in the regulatory development process under this Agreement. They shall include the- 16 -

publication of:(1)

notices of meetings of the Working Parties and of the Executive Committee; and(2)working and final documents.

They shall also include the opportunity to have views and arguments represented at:(1)

meetings of Working Parties through organizations granted consultative status; and(2)meetings of Working Parties and of the Executive Committee through pre-meeting consultingwith representatives of Contracting Parties.
14.

The term "type approval" means written approval of a Contracting Party (or competent authority
designated by a Contracting Party) that a vehicle and/or any item of equipment and/or part that can be fitted
and/or be used on a vehicle, satisfies specific technical requirements, and is used as a precondition to theintroduction of the vehicle, equipment or part into commerce.

15.

The term "UN/ECE Regulations" means United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe Regulations
adopted under the 1958 Agreement.

16.

The term "Working Party" means a specialized technical subsidiary body under the ECE whosefunction is to develop recommendations regarding the establishment of harmonized or new global technicalregulations for inclusion in the Global Registry and to consider amendments to the global technical regulations
established in the Global Registry.

17.

The term "1958 Agreement" means the Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical
Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be used on Wheeled
Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these
Prescriptions.
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Annex B
COMPOSITION AND RULES OF PROCEDURE OF
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Article 1
Membership in the Executive Committee shall be limited to Contracting Parties.
Article 2
All Contracting Parties shall be members of the Executive Committee.
Article 3
3.1.

Except as provided in paragraph 3.2. of this Article, each Contracting Party shall have one vote.

3.2.

If a regional economic integration organization and one or more of its Member States are Contracting Parties tothis Agreement, the regional economic integration organization shall, in matters within its competence, exercise its
right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of its Member States that are Contracting Parties to thisAgreement. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its Member States exercises its right,
and vice versa.
Article 4

In order to cast its own vote, a Contracting Party shall be present. A Contracting Party need not be present for the
casting of a vote by its regional economic integration organization.
Article 5
5.1.

A quorum consisting of not less than half of all the Contracting Parties shall be present for the taking of a vote.

5.2.

For purposes of determining a quorum under this Article, and determining the number of Contracting Parties
needed to constitute one-third of the Contracting Parties present and voting under paragraph 7.1. of Article 7 ofthis Annex, a regional economic integration organization and its Member States shall be counted as one
Contracting Party.

Article 6
6.1.

The Executive Committee shall, at its first session each calendar year, elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from its
membership. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be elected by a two-thirds affirmative vote of all Contracting
Parties present and voting.

6.2.

Neither the Chairman, nor the Vice-Chairman, shall come from the same Contracting Party more than two years insuccession. In any year, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall not come from the same Contracting Party.

- 18 -

Article 7
7.1.

A national or regional regulation shall be listed in the Compendium of Candidates by an affirmative vote of either
at least one-third of the Contracting Parties present and voting (as defined in Article 5.2. of this Annex), or onethird of the total number of votes cast, whichever is more favourable to achieving an affirmative vote. In either
case, the one-third shall include the vote of either the European Community, Japan or the United States, if any ofthem are Contracting Parties.

7.2.

Establishing a global technical regulation in the Global Registry, amending an established global technicalregulation and amending this Agreement shall be by a consensus vote of the Contracting Parties present andvoting. A present and voting Contracting Party that objects to a matter for which a consensus vote is necessary
for adoption shall provide a written explanation of its objection to the Secretary-General within sixty (60) days
from the date of the vote. If such Contracting Party fails to provide such explanation during that period, it shallbe considered as having voted in favour of the matter on which the vote was taken. If all Contracting Parties that
objected to the matter so fail, the vote on the matter shall be considered to have been a consensus vote in favourof the matter by all persons present and voting. In that event, the date of the vote shall be considered to be thefirst day after that 60-day period.

7.3.

All other matters requiring resolution may, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, be resolved by the voting
process set forth in paragraph 7.2. of this Article.
Article 8Contracting Parties that abstain from voting are considered as not voting.
Article 9
The Executive Secretary shall convene the Executive Committee whenever a vote is required to be taken under Article 5,
6 or 13 of this Agreement or whenever necessary to conduct activities under this Agreement.

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