Overeenkomst betreffende de vaststelling van mondiale technische reglementen voor wielvoertuigen, uitrustingsstukken en onderdelen die kunnen worden aangebracht en/of gebruikt op wielvoertuigen

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, and anti-theft performance of wheeled vehicles, equipment and parts which can be fitted and/or be used on wheeled vehicles;
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-theft performance 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 regulations of 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 high levels of safety and environment protection and the other above-stated purposes; and
1.1.7. 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.
1.2. This Agreement is to operate in parallel with the 1958 Agreement, without affecting the institutional autonomy of either Agreement.

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 in accordance 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 non-governmental 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 during consideration of any matter of particular concern to that agency or organization.

3.1. The representatives of the 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; and
3.3.3. 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 the Compendium of Candidate global technical regulations and to establish global technical regulations under this Agreement.
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.

4.1. To be listed under Article 5 or established under Article 6, a technical regulation shall meet the following 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. contain requirements that: 4.1.2.1. provide for high levels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency or anti-theft performance; and
4.1.2.2. wherever appropriate, are expressed in terms of performance instead of design characteristics.
4.1.2.1. provide for high levels of safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency or anti-theft performance; and
4.1.2.2. 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; and
4.1.3.3. if applicable, a recommended minimum period of lead time, based upon considerations of reasonableness and practicability, that a Contracting Party should provide before requiring compliance.
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; and
4.1.3.3. if applicable, a recommended minimum period of lead time, based upon considerations of reasonableness 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, in particular developing countries.

5.1. A compendium of technical regulations of the 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.
5.2. Any Contracting Party may submit a request to the Executive Committee for the listing in the Compendium 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. any available technical documentation supporting such regulation, including documentation concerning best available technology, relative benefits, and cost effectiveness; and
5.2.1.3. the identification of any known existing or imminent relevant international voluntary standards.
5.2.1.1. a copy of such regulation;
5.2.1.2. any available technical documentation supporting such regulation, including documentation concerning best available technology, relative benefits, and cost effectiveness; and
5.2.1.3. the identification of any known existing or imminent relevant international voluntary standards.
5.2.2. The Executive Committee shall consider all requests that satisfy the requirements of Article 4 and paragraph 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. 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 product requirements addressing the same elements of performance or design characteristics as the listed technical regulation;
5.3.2. at the end of the 5-year period following the regulation's listing under this Article, and at the end of each subsequent 5-year period, unless the Executive Committee reaffirms, by an affirmative vote in accordance with 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. All documents considered by the Executive Committee under this Article shall be publicly available.

6.1. A registry shall be created and maintained for the global technical regulations developed and established under this Article. The registry shall be known as the Global Registry.
6.2. 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 report required by paragraph 6.2.4.2.1. of this Article;
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; and
6.2.1.5. the identification of any known existing relevant international voluntary standards.
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 report required by paragraph 6.2.4.2.1. of this Article;
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; and
6.2.1.5. 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 not satisfy 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 through harmonization, 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 establishing alternative 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 the regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.2.4.1.6. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958 Agreement.
6.2.4.1.1. giving consideration to the objective of the proposed global technical regulation and the need for establishing alternative 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 the regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.2.4.1.6. 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 all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.2.4.2.2. the text of any recommended global technical regulation.
6.2.4.2.1. a written report that presents its recommendation regarding the global technical regulation, includes all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.2.4.2.2. the text of any recommended global technical regulation.
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 establishing alternative 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 the regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.2.4.1.6. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958 Agreement.
6.2.4.1.1. giving consideration to the objective of the proposed global technical regulation and the need for establishing alternative 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 the regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.2.4.1.6. 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 all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.2.4.2.2. the text of any recommended global technical regulation.
6.2.4.2.1. a written report that presents its recommendation regarding the global technical regulation, includes all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.2.4.2.2. the text of any recommended global technical regulation.
6.2.5. The Executive Committee shall, using transparent procedures: 6.2.5.1. 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 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 the procedures set forth in paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B. A consensus vote by the Executive Committee in favour of the regulation shall establish the Regulation in the Global Registry.
6.2.5.1. 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 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 the procedures set forth in paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B. A consensus vote by the Executive Committee in favour 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 date of 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 to paragraph 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. 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 report required by paragraph 6.3.4.2.1. of this Article; and
6.3.1.4. the identification of any known existing relevant international voluntary standards.
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 report required by paragraph 6.3.4.2.1. of this Article; and
6.3.1.4. 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 not satisfy 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 for establishing alternative levels of stringency or performance;
6.3.4.1.2. considering technical feasibility;
6.3.4.1.3. considering economic feasibility;
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 the Regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.3.4.1.7. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958 Agreement.
6.3.4.1.1. giving consideration to the objective of the proposed new global technical regulation and the need for establishing alternative levels of stringency or performance;
6.3.4.1.2. considering technical feasibility;
6.3.4.1.3. considering economic feasibility;
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 the Regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.3.4.1.7. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958 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 all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.3.4.2.2. the text of any recommended new global technical regulation.
6.3.4.2.1. a written report that presents its recommendation regarding the new global technical regulation, includes all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.3.4.2.2. the text of any recommended new global technical regulation.
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 for establishing alternative levels of stringency or performance;
6.3.4.1.2. considering technical feasibility;
6.3.4.1.3. considering economic feasibility;
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 the Regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.3.4.1.7. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958 Agreement.
6.3.4.1.1. giving consideration to the objective of the proposed new global technical regulation and the need for establishing alternative levels of stringency or performance;
6.3.4.1.2. considering technical feasibility;
6.3.4.1.3. considering economic feasibility;
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 the Regulation and the criteria in Article 4; and
6.3.4.1.7. giving due consideration to the possibility of the technical regulation being established under the 1958 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 all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.3.4.2.2. the text of any recommended new global technical regulation.
6.3.4.2.1. a written report that presents its recommendation regarding the new global technical regulation, includes all technical 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 and approaches considered; and
6.3.4.2.2. 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 report are 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 the recommended 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 the procedures set forth in paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B. A consensus vote by the Executive Committee in favour of the regulation shall establish the Regulation in the Global Registry.
6.3.5.1. determine whether the recommendations regarding the new global technical regulation and the report are 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 the recommended 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 the procedures set forth in paragraph 7.2. of Article 7 of Annex B. A consensus vote by the Executive Committee in favour 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 date of 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 to paragraph 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. 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 technical regulation in the Global Registry.
6.5. All documents considered or generated by the Working Party in recommending global technical regulations under this Article shall be publicly available.

7.1. A Contracting Party that votes in favour of establishing a global technical regulation under Article 6 of this 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 the established global technical regulation contains more than one level of stringency or performance, the notification 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 the established global technical regulation into its own laws or regulations, shall notify the Secretary-General in writing 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 a report on the status of the Regulation in its domestic process. A status report shall be submitted for each subsequent one-year period if neither of those actions has been taken by the end of that period. Each report required by this paragraph shall:
7.4.1. include 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; and
7.4.2. be submitted to the Secretary-General not later than 60 days after the end of the one-year period for which 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 within sixty (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 of stringency 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 technical regulation may decide to rescind or amend the adopted Regulation. Prior to making that decision, the Contracting 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 under paragraph 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.

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 this Agreement 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.

9.1. Countries and regional economic integration organizations specified in Article 2 may become Contracting Parties to this Agreement by either:
9.1.1. signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval;
9.1.2. signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval;
9.1.3. acceptance; or
9.1.4. accession.
9.2. The instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the 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 shall give notification in accordance with Article 7 as to which, if any, global technical regulation(s) established pursuant 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 the established global technical regulation contains more than one level of stringency or performance, the notification shall specify which of those levels of stringency or performance is adopted or accepted by the Contracting 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 make binding 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 inform the Secretary-General thereof.

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.

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 in paragraph 10.1., then 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 eight (8) countries and/or regional economic integration organizations have become Contracting Parties pursuant to Article 9. Such date of 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 the Agreement after its entry into force, this Agreement shall enter into force sixty (60) days after the date that such country or regional economic integration organization deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

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.

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 be considered 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 the amendment 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 the date 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 this paragraph.
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 be deemed not to have been accepted, and shall be of no effect whatever.

The 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.
14.6. 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.

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 in accordance with Article 12.

The Secretariat of this Agreement shall be the Executive Secretary of the UN/ECE. The Executive Secretary shall carry out the following secretariat functions:
16.1. prepare the meetings of the Executive Committee and the Working Parties;
16.2. transmit to the Contracting Parties reports and other information received in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; and
16.3. discharge the functions assigned by the Executive Committee.