UN R149 Supplement 7 (01 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 149 (ECE R149) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of road illumination devices (lamps) and systems for power-driven vehicles.
UN R149 — Supplement 7 to the 01 series of amendments
Supplement 6 → 7
- What changed
- Former paragraphs 3.3.3. and 3.3.3.1. and Figure I on the Unique Identifier (UI) are deleted. Former paragraph 3.3.3.1. said that the approval marking may be replaced by the Unique Identifier, if available.
- Paragraphs 3.3.2.4.8. and 3.3.2.4.9. add a case: both passing-beam and driving-beam headlamps constitute a matched pair. Then "YHCR" may be marked on headlamps for a passing beam of Class C and a driving beam of Class B. For such a matched pair of the same Class BS, CS or DS, "YCR-BS", "YCR-CS" or "YCR-DS" may be marked.
- In Annex 6, paragraph 2.2., the vertical scans for the "cut-off" sharpness and linearity now use angular steps of 0.05° or smaller. Before, the steps were 0.05°.
- Why
- The UI proposals aim to take on board the recent amendments to Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement on the Unique Identifier (UI).
- GTB said that it is still unclear how to mark "Y" on a headlamp that has both driving beam and passing beam.
- Steps of 0.05° or smaller make it possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the cut-off position.
Q1What changed36 changes
Unique Identifier (UI) deleted (former paras. 3.3.3. and 3.3.3.1., Figure I)
This supplement deletes former paragraphs 3.3.3. and 3.3.3.1. and Figure I on the Unique Identifier (UI). Former paragraph 3.3.3.1. said that the approval marking as defined in paragraph 3.3.2. may be replaced by the Unique Identifier, if available. The last paragraph of the Introduction, on the use of the Unique Identifier, is also deleted.
Unique Identifier removed from other paragraphs and Annex 1
The words on the Unique Identifier are deleted from paragraphs 3.1.2.1.(d), 3.3.1.1., 3.3.3., 3.3.4.1. to 3.3.4.3. and 3.3.5.1. Paragraph 3.3.1.1. now refers to paragraph 3.3.3. instead of paragraph 3.3.4. In Annex 1, the line on the Unique Identifier before item 1 is deleted. Item 10 now reads "Position(s) of the approval mark(s):".
Paragraphs 3.3.4. to 3.3.6. renumbered as 3.3.3. to 3.3.5.
Paragraphs 3.3.4. to 3.3.6. and their subparagraphs are renumbered as paragraphs 3.3.3. to 3.3.5. In Annex 12, the reference to paragraph 3.3.4.6. now reads 3.3.3.6.
Marking of matched pairs of headlamps (paras. 3.3.2.4.8. and 3.3.2.4.9.)
Paragraph 3.3.2.4.8. applies to headlamps that meet the requirements for the passing beam of Class C and the driving beam of Class B. It now adds: if both passing-beam and driving-beam headlamps constitute a matched pair, then "YHCR" may be marked. Paragraph 3.3.2.4.9. now adds a case: both passing-beam and driving-beam headlamps constitute a matched pair and have same Class BS, CS or DS. In that case, "YCR-BS" for Class BS headlamps, "YCR-CS" for Class CS headlamps or "YCR-DS" for Class DS headlamps may be marked. Paragraph 3.3.2.4.9. also now says "same Class" instead of "same Classes".
Angular steps for the "cut-off" measurements (Annex 6, para. 2.2.)
In Annex 6, paragraph 2.2., the measurements by vertical scans through the horizontal part of the "cut-off" now use angular steps of 0.05° or smaller. This applies to the measurements for the minimum sharpness, and for the maximum sharpness and linearity. Before, the angular steps were 0.05°.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Experts from the International Automotive Lighting and Light-Signalling Expert Group (GTB); the Netherlands (Unique Identifier deletion)
- Working party
- GRE, 93rd session (October 2025)
Reasons
The expert from the Netherlands submitted a package of amendment proposals to UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 150. Their aim was to take on board the recent amendments to Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement on the Unique Identifier (UI). GRE adopted these proposals.
Sources (3)
“GRE recalled the package of amendment proposals to UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 150”
“submitted by the expert from Netherlands (Kingdom of the) with the aim to take onboard the recent amendments to Schedule 5 of the 1958 Agreement on the Unique Identifier (UI)”
“GRE adopted these proposals and decided to merge them with other possible amendment proposals to the same series of amendments before submitting to WP.29.”
The marking symbol "Y" was introduced for matched pair functions other than AFS with the 01 series of amendments. However, GTB said that it is still unclear how to mark "Y" on a headlamp that has both driving beam and passing beam. To avoid confusion, the proposal amends paragraphs 3.3.2.4.8. and 3.3.2.4.9. to clarify this case.
Sources (3)
“The marking symbol “Y” has been introduced for matched pair functions other than an adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) with the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149.”
“However, it is still unclear how to mark “Y” a headlamp that has both driving beam and passing beam.”
“In order to avoid confusion, it is proposed to amend the paragraphs 3.3.2.4.8. and 3.3.2.4.9. to clarify this occurrence.”
The text required a step size of 0.05° when assessing the quality of the cut-off. Explicitly allowing steps of 0.05° or smaller makes it possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the cut-off position. A smaller step size is beneficial to get comparable measurement results from different laboratories.
Sources (3)
“The current text requires measurement with a step size of 0.05° when assessing the quality of the cut-off, or when performing instrumental aiming.”
“By explicitly allowing higher angular resolution, i.e. steps of 0.05° or smaller, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the cut-off position.”
“Therefore, a smaller step size is beneficial to get comparable measurement results from different laboratories.”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRE-92-16)
The Schedule 5 amendment means that the UI marking cannot be applied 'by default' any more. As the UI concept was not yet implemented into the UNECE secure internet database 'DETA', UI markings could not have been applied yet. For this reason, a Supplement is considered appropriate.
Submitted by The Netherlands. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/93, para. 9.
Sources (2)
“This means that the UI marking cannot be applied anymore ‘by default’.”
“As the UI concept was not yet implemented into the UNECE secure internet database ‘DETA’, UI markings could also not have been applied yet. A Supplement is therefore considered appropriate.”
Document trail
- —ProposalGRE-92-16Proposal by the Netherlands to delete the Unique Identifier (UI) marking provisions
- 2025-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2025/13GTB proposal to clarify the marking requirements for headlamp functions
- 2025-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2025/14GTB proposal to improve the accuracy of the instrumental aiming method
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/93Session report, paras. 9 and 28
- 2026-01Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/35Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2026-03WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1190Adopted at the 198th session (session report, para. 114)
- 2026-09-30In forceC.N.422.2026.TREATIES-XI.B.16.149UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- No direct action for this role.
Component supplier
- Do not replace the approval marking by a Unique Identifier (UI); former paragraph 3.3.3.1. is deleted.
- For matched pairs of passing-beam and driving-beam headlamps, check which markings paragraphs 3.3.2.4.8. and 3.3.2.4.9. now allow.
- Update documents that quote paragraphs 3.3.4. to 3.3.6.; these are now paragraphs 3.3.3. to 3.3.5.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Be ready for Annex 6 "cut-off" measurements in angular steps of 0.05° or smaller.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
More UN R149 change reports
- 01 series — Supplement 8
- 01 series — Supplement 6
- 01 series — Supplement 5
- 01 series — Supplement 4
- 01 series — Supplement 2
- 01 series — Supplement 1
- 01 series — Base text
- 00 series — Supplement 11
- 00 series — Supplement 10
- 00 series — Supplement 9
- 00 series — Supplement 8
- 00 series — Supplement 7
- 00 series — Supplement 6
- 00 series — Supplement 5
- 00 series — Supplement 4
- 00 series — Supplement 3