United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE): approval of vehicles, accession to Regulation No 29

PURPOSE: to adopt, on behalf of the European Union, Regulation No 29 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/142/EU on the accession of the European Union to Regulation No 29 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle.

BACKGROUND : the standardised requirements of Regulation No 29 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle ("UNECE Regulation No 29") are intended to remove technical barriers to the trade in motor vehicles between the Contracting Parties to the Revised 1958 Agreement and to ensure a high level of safety and protection for vehicle occupants.

At the date of its accession to the Revised 1958 Agreement, the Union acceded to a limited number of UNECE Regulations listed in Annex II to Decision 97/836/EC; UNECE Regulation No 29 was not included in that list.

In light of subsequent amendments to UNECE Regulation No 29 and of Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor, according to which the Union is to take account of UNECE Regulation No 29, that UNECE Regulation should become part of the EU type-approval system for motor vehicles.

This is the aim of the Decision.

CONTENT: This Decision approves Regulation No 29 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle. 

The UNECE Regulation shall become part of the EU type-approval system for motor vehicles.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 10/03/2012.