UN R44 Supplement 18 (04 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 44 (ECE R44) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of restraining devices for child occupants of power-driven vehicles ("Child Restraint Systems").
UN R44 — Supplement 18 to the 04 series of amendments
Supplement 17 → 18
- What changed
- From 1 September 2021, Contracting Parties applying R44 are not obliged to accept its type approvals first issued after 1 September 2021.
- Until 1 September 2023, Contracting Parties applying R44 must accept its 04 series approvals first issued before 1 September 2021. From 1 September 2023, Contracting Parties applying R44 are not obliged to accept type approvals issued in accordance with R44.
- Contracting Parties applying R44 must continue to accept its 04 series approvals of vehicle specific or specific vehicle “built in” child restraint systems.
- Why
- The proposal aimed to stop the development of new products according to UN Regulation No. 44. Child restraint systems of all types had been included in the scope of UN Regulation No. 129.
- CI and ANEC considered it undesirable that CRS manufacturers were still allowed to start developing new products according to R44 for an undefined period.
- At GRSP, the expert from OICA proposed to exclude built-in CRS from the phase out.
Q1What changed6 changes
Acceptance of type approvals under this Regulation (paras. 17.22. to 17.25.)
From 1 September 2021, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation are not obliged to accept its type approvals first issued after 1 September 2021 (para. 17.22.). Until 1 September 2023, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation must accept 04 series approvals first issued before 1 September 2021 (para. 17.23.). From 1 September 2023, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation are not obliged to accept type approvals issued in accordance with this Regulation (para. 17.24.). Paragraph 17.25. applies notwithstanding paragraphs 17.22. and 17.24. Contracting Parties applying this Regulation must continue to accept 04 series approvals of vehicle specific or specific vehicle “built in” child restraint systems.
Extensions to systems other than Group 3 (para. 17.21.)
From 1 September 2023, no extensions may be granted under this Regulation to child restraint systems other than Group 3. Before, this date was 1 September 2022.
Footnote (3) of the Groups / categories table (para. 6.1.3.)
Footnote (3) of the table now says that new approvals and extensions will be granted in accordance with paragraphs 17.16 to 17.23. Before, it named paragraphs 17.16 to 17.21. Five table entries now show “A(3)”.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the European Association for the Coordination of Consumer Representation in Standardization on behalf of Consumers International; expert from the European Commission; expert from France
- Working party
- GRSP, 67th session (July 2020)
Reasons
The proposal aimed to stop the development of new products according to UN Regulation No. 44. This was because child restraint systems of all types, including the booster category, had been included in the scope of UN Regulation No. 129.
Source
“aimed to stop the development of new products according to UN Regulation No. 44, since child restraint system of all types (including booster category) had been included in the scope of UN Regulation No. 129”
CI and ANEC considered it undesirable that CRS manufacturers were still allowed to start developing new products according to R44 for an undefined period. They said this results in two categories of products offering two levels of protection. They also named confusion among consumers and less encouragement for manufacturers to develop products to the latest standard.
Sources (4)
“CI and ANEC consider it undesirable that CRS manufacturers are still allowed to start developing new products according to UN Regulation No. 44 for an undefined period, resulting in:”
“Two categories of products offering two levels of protection that can be introduced on the market;”
“Confusion among consumers (mass-based versus stature-based);”
“Less encouragement for manufacturers to develop products to the latest standard.”
At GRSP, the expert from OICA questioned the issue of built-in CRS and proposed to exclude them from the phase out.
Source
“the expert from OICA questioned the issue of built-in CRS and proposed to exclude them from the phase out.”
The expert from France tabled GRSP-67-14 to correct a date in the transitional provisions.
Source
“GRSP also considered GRSP-67-14, tabled by the expert from France to correct a date in transitional provisions.”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-67-14)
The proposal says that paragraph 17.19 allows extensions to CRS of group 2/3 and group 2 until 1 September 2023. It adds that paragraph 17.21 allows no extensions under the Regulation to child restraint systems other than Group 3. To align these paragraphs and avoid any misinterpretation, it asks for the date of paragraph 17.21 to be changed to 1 September 2023.
Submitted by Expert from France. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/67, para. 33.
Sources (3)
“Extension can be granted to CRS of group 2/3 and group 2 until 1 September 2023 according to paragraph 17.19.”
“But according to paragraph 17.21, no extensions shall be granted under the Regulation 44 to child restraint systems other than Group 3.”
“In order to align these paragraphs and avoid any misinterpretation, the date of the paragraph 17.21 should be amended to 1 September 2023.”
Document trail
- 2019-09ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2019/23Proposal by the expert from ANEC on behalf of Consumers International
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/66GRSP session report, para. 26: adopted as amended by Annex V
- 2020-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2020/53Text sent to WP.29 for June 2020; WP.29 recommended postponing its consideration to its 182nd session
- —RevisedGRSP-67-31Amendments to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2020/53 by the expert from the European Commission
- —ProposalGRSP-67-14Proposal by the expert from France to correct a date in the transitional provisions
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/67GRSP session report, para. 33: GRSP-67-14 and GRSP-67-31 adopted
- 2020-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2020/111Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1 for November 2020
- 2020-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1155Adopted at the 182nd session (session report, para. 133)
- 2021-06-09In forceC.N.183.2021.TREATIES-XI.B.16.44UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Check that your vehicle specific or specific vehicle “built in” child restraint systems hold 04 series approvals (para. 17.25.).
Component supplier
- Plan for Contracting Parties not being obliged to accept this Regulation's approvals first issued after 1 September 2021 (para. 17.22.).
- Plan for Contracting Parties not being obliged to accept this Regulation's approvals from 1 September 2023, except under paragraph 17.25.
- Update your extension plans for systems other than Group 3 to the 1 September 2023 date (para. 17.21.).
Technical service / Approval authority
- Be ready to check if an approval was first issued before or after 1 September 2021 (paras. 17.22. and 17.23.).
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.