View source for World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations

{{Short description|Working party}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox United Nations
| image         = Emblem of the United Nations.svg
| image_size    = 120px
| name = World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)
| type = Working Party 
| abbreviation = WP.29
| leader_title  = Head
| leader_name = {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Antonio Erario]] (2021-)
| status = Active
| formation = 1952
| website = [http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/meeting_docs_wp29.html UNECE Transport - WP29]
| parent_organization = [[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|UNECE]] Inland Transport Committee
}}

The '''World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations''' is a working party ('''WP.29''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/WP29-FAQ-2005.pdf|title=Transport - Transport - UNECE|website=www.unece.org}}</ref> of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) of the [[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe]] (UNECE). Its responsibility is to manage the multilateral Agreements signed in 1958, 1997 and 1998 concerning the technical prescriptions for the construction, approval of wheeled vehicles as well as their Periodic Technical Inspection and, to operate within the framework of these three Agreements to develop and amend UN Regulations, UN Global Technical Regulations and UN Rules, kind of [[vehicle regulation]].

WP.29 was established in June 1952 as the "'''Working Party of experts on technical requirement of vehicles'''", while its current name was adopted in 2000.

At its inception, WP.29 had a broader European scope. Since 2000, the global scope of this forum was recognized given the active participation of Countries in all continents, excluding the United States and Canada, who developed incompatible standards.<ref name="R&T 1978"/>

The forum works on regulations covering [[vehicle safety]], [[environmental protection]], [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] and [[theft]]-resistance.

This work affects de facto vehicle design and facilitates international trade.

== Organization ==
There are six permanent Working Parties which are subsidiary bodies that consider specialized tasks, consisting of people with a specific expertise:<ref name="wp29-intro">{{cite web|url=https://unece.org/wp29-introduction |title=WP.29 - Introduction |website=[[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|UNECE]] |access-date=2021-11-02 }}</ref>
* Noise and Tyres (GRBP)
* Lighting and Light-Signalling (GRE)
* Pollution and Energy (GRPE)
* Automated and Connected Vehicles (GRVA)
* General Safety Provisions (GRSG)
* Passive Safety (GRSP)

==1958 Agreement==
The core of the Forum's work is based around the "1958 Agreement", formally titled "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" (E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.2, amended on 16 October 1995). This forms a legal framework wherein participating countries (contracting parties) agree on a common set of technical prescriptions and protocols for [[type approval]] of vehicles and components. These were formerly called "UNECE Regulations" or, less formally, "ECE Regulations" in reference to the Economic Commission for Europe. However, since many non-European countries are now contracting parties to the 1958 Agreement, the regulations are officially entitled "UN Regulations".<ref name="WP29">{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/introduction.html|title=WP.29 - Introduction - Transport - UNECE|website=www.unece.org}}</ref><ref>[https://www.drivingvisionnews.com/news/2011/08/29/the-end-of-the-ece-era/ The End of the 'ECE' Era], ''Driving Vision News'', 29 August 2011</ref> According to the mutual recognition principle set in the Agreement, each Contracting Party's Type Approvals are recognised by all other Contracting Parties.

===Participating countries===
[[File:World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.svg|thumb|350px]]

Formally signing the 1958 Agreement was possible till June 30 of that year, and five countries chose to do so:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20335/v335.pdf |title=
United Nations Treaty Series Vol. 335 (1959): 'Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Conditions of Approval and Reciprocal Recognition of Approval for Motor Vehicle Equipment and Parts. Done at Geneva, on 20 March 1958' | page=211-227 | accessdate=2024-02-08}}</ref> Italy (March 28), Netherlands (March 30), West Germany (June 19), France (June 26), and Hungary (June 30). Sweden and Belgium acceded soon after. Originally, the agreement allowed participation of [[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|ECE]] member countries only, but in 1995 the agreement was revised to allow non-ECE members to participate. Current participants include the European Union and its member countries, as well as non-EU UNECE members such as Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and even remote territories such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.

Contracting parties to the 1958 Agreement are referenced by a Distinguishing Number, historically corresponding to the chronological order in which the countries became such member parties. {{As of|2022}}, the participants of the Agreement, with their Distinguishing Number, were:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/ECE-TRANS-WP.29-343-Rev.29-Add.1.pdf |title=ECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations Part I: Contracting Parties to the Agreement, their date of application of the UN Regulations and designated Type Approval Authority(ies) and Technical Service(s)) |access-date=2021-11-02 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=ECE/TRANS/WP.29/343/Rev.30 - Status of the Agreement, of the annexed Regulations and of the amendments thereto - Revision 30 |url=https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/ECE_TRANS_WP.29_343_Rev.30E.pdf |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=UNECE |format=PDF}}</ref>

{| class ="wikitable sortable"
!Dist. Number || Country  || Effective date || Notes
|-
| 1 ||{{flag| Germany }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1965-01-28}} ||
|-
| 2 ||{{flag| France }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1959-06-20}} ||
|-
| 3 ||{{flag| Italy }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1963-04-26}} ||
|-
| 4 ||{{flag| Netherlands }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1960-08-29}} ||
|-
| 5 ||{{flag| Sweden }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1959-06-20}} ||
|-
| 6 ||{{flag| Belgium }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1959-09-05}} ||
|-
| 7 ||{{flag| Hungary }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1960-07-02}} ||
|-
| 8 ||{{flag| Czech Republic }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1993-01-01}} ||(formerly [[Czechoslovakia]])
|-
| 9 ||{{flag| Spain }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1961-10-10}} ||
|-
| 10 ||{{flag| Serbia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2001-03-12}} || (formerly [[Yugoslavia]])
|-
| 11 ||{{flag| United Kingdom }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1963-03-16}} ||
|-
| 12 ||{{flag| Austria }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1971-05-11}} ||
|-
| 13 ||{{flag| Luxembourg }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1971-12-12}} ||
|-
| 14 ||{{flag| Switzerland }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1973-08-28}} ||
|-
| 16 ||{{flag| Norway }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1975-04-04}} ||
|-
| 17 ||{{flag| Finland }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1976-09-17}} ||
|-
| 18 ||{{flag| Denmark }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1976-12-20}} ||
|-
| 19 ||{{flag| Romania }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1977-02-21}} ||
|-
| 20 ||{{flag| Poland }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1979-03-13}} ||
|-
| 21 ||{{flag| Portugal }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1980-03-28}} ||
|-
| 22 ||{{flag| Russian Federation }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1987-02-17}} ||
|-
| 23 ||{{flag| Greece }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1992-12-05}} ||
|-
| 24 ||{{flag| Ireland }} (as an EU member<ref name="Ireland not a Contracting Party directly to 1958 Treaty">{{cite web |title=Clarification of Ireland's non Contracting Party status to the 1958 Treaty. Ireland is a Member of the European Union which is a Contracting Party. |url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/viewdetails.aspx?src=ind&mtdsg_no=xi-b-16&chapter=11&clang=_en}}</ref>) || {{dts|format=dmy| 1998-03-24}} ||
|-
| 25 ||{{flag| Croatia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1991-10-08}} ||
|-
| 26 ||{{flag| Slovenia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1991-06-25}} ||
|-
| 27 ||{{flag| Slovakia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1993-01-01}} ||
|-
| 28 ||{{flag| Belarus }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1995-07-02}} ||
|-
| 29 ||{{flag| Estonia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1995-05-01}} ||
|-
| 30 || {{flag|Republic of Moldova}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2016-11-20}} ||
|-
| 31 ||{{flag| Bosnia and Herzegovina }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1992-03-06}} ||
|-
| 32 ||{{flag| Latvia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1999-01-18}} ||
|-
| 34 ||{{flag| Bulgaria }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2000-01-21}} ||
|-
| 35 ||{{flag| Kazakhstan }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2011-01-08}} ||
|-
| 36 ||{{flag| Lithuania }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2002-03-29}} ||
|-
| 37 ||{{flag| Turkey }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1996-02-27}} ||
|-
| 39 ||{{flag| Azerbaijan }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2002-06-14}} ||
|-
| 40 ||{{flag| North Macedonia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1991-11-17}} ||
|-
| 41 ||{{flag| Andorra }}||  {{dts|format=dmy| 2023-04-11}} ||
|-
| 42 ||{{flag| European Union }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1998-03-24}} ||
|-
| 43 ||{{flag| Japan }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 1998-11-24}} ||
|-
| 45 ||{{flag| Australia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2000-04-25}} ||
|-
| 46 ||{{flag| Ukraine }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2000-06-30}} ||
|-
| 47 ||{{flag| South Africa }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2001-06-17}} ||
|-
| 48 ||{{flag| New Zealand }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2002-01-26}} ||
|-
| 49 ||{{flag| Cyprus }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2004-05-01}} ||
|-
| 50 ||{{flag| Malta }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2004-05-01}} ||
|-
| 51 ||{{flag| South Korea }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2004-12-31}} ||
|-
| 52 ||{{flag| Malaysia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2006-04-04}} ||
|-
| 53 ||{{flag| Thailand }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2006-05-01}} ||
|-
| 54 ||{{flag| Albania }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2011-11-05}} ||
|-
| 55 ||{{flag| Armenia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2018-04-30}} ||
|-
| 56 ||{{flag| Montenegro }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2006-06-03}} ||
|-
| 57 ||{{flag| San Marino }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2016-01-26}} ||
|-
| 58 ||{{flag| Tunisia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2008-01-01}} ||
|-
| 60 ||{{flag| Georgia (country)|name=Georgia }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2015-05-25}} ||
|-
| 62 ||{{flag| Egypt }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2013-02-03}} ||
|-
| 63 ||{{flag| Nigeria }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2018-10-18}} ||
|-
| 64 ||{{flag| Pakistan }} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2020-04-24}} ||
|-
| 65 ||{{flag| Uganda}} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2022-10-22}} ||
|-
| 66 ||{{flag|  Philippines}} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2023-01-02}} ||
|-
| 67 ||{{flag| Viet Nam}} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2023-07-26}} ||
|-
| 68 ||{{flag| Kyrgyzstan}} || {{dts|format=dmy| 2023-09-01}} ||
|}

Most countries, even if not formally participating in the 1958 agreement, recognise the UN Regulations and either mirror the UN Regulations' content in their own national requirements, or permit the import, registration, and use of UN type-approved vehicles, or both. The [[United States]] and [[Canada]] (apart from Lighting Regulations) are the two significant exceptions; the UN Regulations are generally not recognised and UN-compliant vehicles and equipment are not authorised for import, sale, or use in the two regions, unless they are tested to be compliant with the region's car safety laws, or for limited non driving use (e.g. car show displays).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/grey-market-cars-everything-you-need-to-know/|title=Grey market cars: Everything you need to know to avoid seeing your ride get crushed|date=30 August 2013}}</ref>

===Type approval===
[[File:E-Pruefzeichen.svg|thumb|150 px|Two types of approval mark: top - according to UN regulations, bottom - according to EU regulations (or directives)]]

The 1958 Agreement operates on the principles of [[type approval]] and [[Reciprocity (international relations)|reciprocal recognition]]. Any country that accedes to the 1958 Agreement has authority to test and approve any manufacturer's design of a regulated product, regardless of the country in which that component was produced. Each individual design from each individual manufacturer is counted as one individual type. Once any acceding country grants a type approval, every other acceding country is obliged to honor that type approval and regard that vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment as legal for import, sale and use. Items type-approved according to a UN Regulation are marked with an ''E'' and a Distinguishing Number, within a circle. This number indicates which country approved the item, and other surrounding letters and digits indicate the precise version of the regulation met and the type approval number, respectively.

Although all countries' type approvals are legally equivalent, there are real and perceived differences in the rigour with which the regulations and protocols are applied by different national type approval authorities. Some countries have their own national standards for granting type approvals, which may be more stringent than called for by the UN regulations themselves. Within the auto parts industry, a German (E1) type approval, for example, is regarded as a measure of insurance against suspicion of poor quality or an undeserved type approval.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://candlepowerinc.com/pdfs/Metal_Signal.pdf |title=Marketing emphasis on German E1 type approval |access-date=2011-11-13}}</ref>

===UN Regulations===
{{anchor|List of UN Regulations}}
{{As of|2015}}, there are 135 UN Regulations appended to the 1958 Agreement; most regulations cover a single vehicle component or technology. A partial list of current regulations applying to passenger cars follows (different regulations may apply to heavy vehicles, motorcycles, etc.)

Recently, a new regulation, regulation 0 was introduced. Regulation 0, is the "International Whole Vehicle Type Approval (IWVTA)" while allow to define international compliance to a set of regulations.

====General lighting====
* R3 — Retroreflecting devices
* R4 — Illumination of rear registration plates
* R6 — Direction indicators
* R7 — Front and rear position lamps, stop lamps and end-outline marker lamps
* R19 — Front fog lamps
* R23 — Reversing lights
* R37 — Filament lamps (bulbs) (''See: [[Automotive lamp types]]'')
* R38 — Rear fog lamps
* R48 — Installation of lighting and light-signalling devices
* R77 — Parking lamps
* R87 — [[Daytime running lamp]]s
* R91 — Side marker lamps
* R112 — Headlamp Asymmetric 
* R119 — Cornering lamps
* R123 — AFS lamps
* R128 — LED light sources
* R148 - Light Signaling Devices
* R149 - Road Illumination Devices
* R150 - Reflex Reflector Devices

==== Headlamps ====
* R1 — [[Headlamps]] emitting an asymmetrical passing beam and/or a driving beam, equipped with R2 or HS1 bulbs (superseded by R112, but still valid for existing approvals)
* R5 — Sealed Beam headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam and/or a driving beam
* R8 — Headlamps equipped with replaceable single-filament tungsten-halogen bulbs (superseded by R112, but still valid for existing approvals)
* R20 — Headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam and/or a driving beam and equipped with halogen double-filament H4 bulbs (superseded by R112, but still valid for existing approvals)
* R31 — Halogen sealed beam headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam and/or a driving beam
* R45 — Headlamp cleaners
* R98 — Headlamps equipped with gas-discharge light sources
* R99 — Gas-discharge light sources for use in approved gas-discharge lamp units of power-driven vehicles (''See: [[Automotive lamp types]]'')
* R112 — Headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam and/or a driving beam and equipped with filament bulbs
* R113 — Headlamps emitting a symmetrical passing beam and/or a driving beam and equipped with filament bulbs

==== Instrumentation/controls ====
* R35 — arrangement of foot controls
* R39 — speedometer equipment
* R46 — rear-view mirrors
* R79 — steering equipment
* R160 — [[event data recorder]]

==== Crashworthiness ====
* R11 — door latches and door retention components
* R13-H — [[Brake|braking]] (passenger cars)
* R13 — braking (trucks and busses)
* R14 — [[Seat belt|safety belt]] anchorages
* R16 — [[Seat belt|safety belts]] and restraint systems
* R17 — seats, seat anchorages, head restraints
* R27 — advance-warning triangles
* R42 — front and rear protective devices ([[Bumper (automobile)|bumpers]], etc.)
* R43 — safety glazing materials and their installation on vehicles
* R94 — protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision
* R95 — protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision
* R116 — protection of motor vehicles against unauthorized use
* R129 — enhanced child restraint systems (ECRS)

==== Environmental compatibility ====
* R10 — electromagnetic compatibility
* R15 — emissions and fuel consumption (superseded by R83, R84 and R101)
* R24 — engine power measurement, smoke emissions, engine type approval
* R51 — noise emissions
* R68 — measurement of the maximum speed
* R83 — emission of pollutants according to engine fuel requirements
* R84 — measurement of [[Fuel economy in automobiles#Europe|fuel consumption]]
* R85 — electric drive trains — measurement of the net power and the maximum 30 minutes power of electric drive trains
* R100 — approval of [[battery electric vehicle]]s with regard to specific requirements for the [[vehicle construction|construction]], [[Functional Safety]] and [[hydrogen emission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/r100a1e.pdf|title=Text of the 1958 Agreement - Transport - UNECE|website=www.unece.org}}</ref>
* R101 — measurement of the emission of carbon dioxide and [[Fuel economy in automobiles#Europe|fuel consumption]]
* R117 — approval limits for pass-by noise, wet grip, and rolling resistance. These values are also used on the [[tyre label]]

==== Tyres and wheels ====
* R30 — Tyres for passenger cars and their trailers 
* R54 — Tyres for commercial vehicles and their trailers 
* R64 — Temporary use spare unit, run flat tyres, run flat-system
* R75 — Tyres for motorcycles/mopeds 
* R88 — Retroreflective tyres for two-wheeled vehicles  
* R106 — Tyres for agricultural vehicles  
* R108 — Retreaded tyres for passenger cars and their trailers
* R109 — Retreaded tyres for commercial vehicles and their trailers 
* R124 — Replacement wheels for passenger cars
* R141 — Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)

====Automated/autonomous and connected vehicle regulations ====
* R155 — cyber security<ref name="unece181">{{cite web|date=August 2020 |author=Nick Bowyer |title=New UN ECE Regulations on Cyber Security and Software Updates Adopted |url=https://www.interregs.com/articles/spotlight/new-un-ece-regulations-on-cyber-security-and-software-updates-adopted-000220 |website=InterRegs |access-date=6 November 2021 }}</ref>
* R156 — software updates<ref name="unece181" />
* R157 — [[Collision avoidance system|automated lane keeping system]]

====Brake====
* R90 — [[ECE Regulation 90]]

==== Other regulations ====

[[European Union|European union]] also applies other UNECE regulations for cars produced in unlimited series: R34 — against fire,
R28 — Audible warning,
R21, R12, R26, 
R123 — Adaptive front-lighting,
R121 — Location and identification of hand controls, tell-tales and indicators,
R122 — Heating,
R25 — Head restraints,
R55 — combinations of vehicles,
R67, R97, R110. European union also applies its own (non-UNECE) regulations such as [[European Community]] regulations.<ref>{{Citation |title=Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC (Text with EEA relevance.) |date=2018-05-30 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32018R0858 |access-date=2024-10-12 |language=en}}</ref>

==North America==
The most notable non-signatory to the 1958 Agreement is the [[United States]], which has its own [[Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards]] and does not recognise UN type approvals. However, both the United States and Canada are parties to the 1998 Agreement. UN-specification vehicles and components which do not also comply with the US regulations therefore cannot be imported to the US without extensive modifications. [[Canada]] has its own [[Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards]], broadly similar to the US FMVSS, but Canada does also accept UN-compliant headlamps and bumpers. The impending [[Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement]] between Canada and the European Union could see Canada recognise more UN Regulations as acceptable alternatives to the Canadian regulations.<ref>{{cite news|title=CETA Means Big Changes For Canadian Automotive Industry |url=http://www.autos.ca/general-news/ceta-means-big-changes-for-canadian-automotive-industry/|access-date=20 March 2014|date=18 October 2013}}</ref>  Canada currently applies 14 of the 17 ECE main standards as allowable alternatives{{Citation needed|date=March 2014}} - the exceptions at this point relate to motorcycle controls and displays, motorcycle mirrors, and electronic stability control for passenger cars.{{Citation needed|date=March 2014}} These three remaining groups will be allowed in Canada by the time the ratification of the trade deal occurs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2014}}

===Grey Market (1976-88)===
[[image:Rétromobile 2015 - Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S - 1981 - 003.jpg|thumb|right|200px|1981 Lamborghini Countach LP 400S sold new in the United States via the grey market]]
Vehicles built in compliance with global safety and emissions regulations were still available to Americans in the period 1976-88, as individual imports. This was via the [[Grey import vehicle#United States|grey market]].<ref name="R&T 1978">{{cite journal | ref = R&T December 1978 | journal = [[Road & Track]] | title = Lamborghini Countach S | pages = 38–41 | last = Rusz | first = Joe | publisher = CBS Inc. - CBS Publications | location = Newport Beach, CA, USA | date = December 1978 }}</ref> Many of the finest, iconic automobiles of the [[Malaise era]],<ref name="R&T 1978"/> such as the [[Lamborghini Countach]], [[Mercedes-Benz W126|Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL]], [[Mercedes-Benz G-Class]] and [[Range Rover]] were officially forbidden to Americans, but this outlet proved viable for many years. The grey market reached 66,900 vehicles imported by individual consumers in 1985, and altered to meet U.S. design regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/150/145479.pdf|page=2|title=Tax Administration Gas Guzzler Tax Compliance Can Be Increased|publisher=United States General Accounting Office| date=16 July 1987|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref>  It is no longer possible to import a vehicle into the United States as a personal import, with four exceptions, none of which permits Americans to buy recent vehicles not officially available in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19400369.html?dids=19400369:19400369&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+22%2C+1995&author=Guy+Gugliotta&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Foreign+Car+Importers+Can%27t+Break+Red+Tape+at+the+Border|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720141935/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19400369.html?dids=19400369:19400369&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+22,+1995&author=Guy+Gugliotta&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Foreign+Car+Importers+Can't+Break+Red+Tape+at+the+Border|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=Foreign Car Importers Can't Break Red Tape at the Border}}</ref> Even prominent billionaire [[Bill Gates]] and his [[Porsche 959]] have proven unable.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/08/22/foreign-car-importers-cant-break-red-tape-at-the-border/03fc7118-0e2b-4b5b-9857-1109ce3c90a9/|title=FOREIGN CAR IMPORTERS CAN'T BREAK RED TAPE AT THE BORDER|author=Guy Gugliotta|date = 22 August 1995|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref>

===Self-certification===
Rather than a UN-style system of type approvals, the US and Canadian auto safety regulations operate on the principle of self-certification, wherein the manufacturer or importer of a vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment certifies—i.e., asserts and promises—that the vehicle or equipment complies with all applicable federal or Canada Motor Vehicle Safety, bumper and antitheft standards.<ref name="hsdl.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=751039 |title=U.S. and EU Motor Vehicle Standards: Issues for Transatlantic Trade Negotiations|access-date=2023-09-24|format=PDF|date=2014-02-18}}</ref> No prior verification is required by a governmental agency or authorised testing entity before the vehicle or equipment can be imported, sold, or used. If reason develops to believe the certification was false or improper — i.e., that the vehicle or equipment does not in fact comply — then authorities may conduct tests and, if a noncompliance is found, order a recall and/or other corrective and/or punitive measures. Vehicle and equipment makers are permitted to appeal such penalties, but this is a difficult direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2015/nhtsa-fiat-chrysler-enforcement-action-07262015|title=Press Releases|access-date=30 June 2016|archive-date=18 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618153214/http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2015/nhtsa-fiat-chrysler-enforcement-action-07262015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Non-compliances found that are arguably without effect to highway safety may be petitioned to skip recall (remedy and notification) requirements for vehicles already produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d8c5d618be1b5315607c88eff29bc193&mc=true&node=pt49.6.556&rgn=div5|title=eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations|website=www.ecfr.gov}}</ref>

==Regulatory differences==
[[Image:Citroen Headlamps - Euro vs US.jpg|thumb|left|A comparison of European (top) and US (bottom) headlamp configuration on similar-year [[Citroën DS]] cars]]
Historically, one of the most conspicuous differences between UN and US regulations was the design and performance of [[headlamp]]s. The [[Citroën DS]] shown here illustrates the large differences in headlamps during the 1940-1983 era when US regulations required [[sealed beam]] headlamps, which were prohibited in many European countries. A similar approach was evident with the US mandatory side marker lights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature/tech/Motive_Tech_The_Difference_Between_US_and_European_Lights.shtml |title=Motivemagazine.com - Motive Tech: The Difference Between US and European Lights |access-date=2010-12-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501102913/http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature/tech/Motive_Tech_The_Difference_Between_US_and_European_Lights.shtml |archive-date=2009-05-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/jay-lenos-garage/video/1971-citroen-ds/2839548?onid=159436#vc159436=1|title=1971 Citröen DS|date=12 January 2015}}</ref>

==1998 Agreement==
The "Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be used on Wheeled Vehicles", or 1998 Agreement, is a subsequent agreement. Following its mission to harmonize vehicle regulations, the UNECE solved the main issues (Administrative Provisions for Type approval opposed to self-certification and mutual recognition of Type Approvals) preventing non-signatory Countries to the 1958 Agreement to fully participate to its activities.

The 1998 Agreement is born to produce meta regulations called Global Technical Regulations without administrative procedures for type approval and so, without the principle of mutual recognition of Type Approvals. The 1998 Agreement stipulates that Contracting Parties will establish, by consensus vote, United Nations Global Technical Regulations (UN GTRs) in a UN Global Registry. The UN GTRs contain globally harmonized performance requirements and test procedures. Each UN GTR contains extensive notes on its development. The text includes a record of the technical rationale, the research sources used, cost and benefit considerations, and references to data consulted. The Contracting Parties use their nationally established rulemaking processes when transposing UN GTRs into their national legislation. {{As of|2024|10|post=,}} the 1998 Agreement has 40 Contracting Parties<ref>{{cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-32&chapter=11&clang=_en|title=Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be used on Wheeled Vehicles|website=United Nations Treaty Collection|access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref> and 24 UN GTRs that have been established into the UN Global Registry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29wgs/wp29gen/wp29glob_registry.html |title=Global Technical Regulations(GTRs)of UNECE |access-date=2014-02-05}}</ref> Manufacturers and suppliers cannot use directly the UN GTRs as these are intended to serve the Countries and require transposition in national or regional law.

==2013 Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (proposed)==
As part of the [[Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership]] (TTIP) negotiations, the issues of divergent standards in automobile regulatory structure are being investigated. TTIP negotiators are seeking to identify ways to narrow the regulatory differences, potentially reducing costs and spurring additional trade in vehicles.<ref name="hsdl.org"/>

==OICA==
[[Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles]] (OICA) hosts on its web site the working documents from various United Nations expert groups including World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oica.net/category/worldwide-harmonization/un-expert-group-documents |title=OICA un-expert-group-documents |publisher=Oica.net |access-date=2011-11-13}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Vehicle regulation]]
*[[Car safety]]
*[[Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures]]
*[[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]]
*[[Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards]]
*[[Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108]]
*[[Automotive lighting]]
*[[Headlamps]]
*[[Street-legal vehicle]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://unece.org/transport/vehicle-regulations UN Regulations]
*[https://unece.org/wp29-how-it-works-how-join-it World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) – How It Works, How to Join It]
*[https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp29/WP29-FAQ-2005.pdf World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations FAQ]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Forum For Harmonization Of Vehicle Regulations}}
[[Category:Automotive standards]]
[[Category:Automotive safety]]
[[Category:United Nations Economic Commission for Europe]]