Explanatory note

These Regulations amend Regulation (EU)661/2009, Regulation (EU) No672/2010, Commission Regulation (EU) No 1008/2010, Regulation (EU) 2015/758, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/79, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 and Regulation (EU) 2018/858 to take account of regulatory developments.

Regulation 3 amends Regulation (EU)661/2009 to bring type-approval requirements for seat belt anchorages in line with UN Regulation No 145, a standard developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) which sets out uniform provisions for the approval of vehicles with regard to ISOFIX anchorage systems, ISOFIX top tether anchorages, and i-Size seating positions.

Regulation 4 makes a series of amendments to the test procedures for windscreen defrosting and demisting systems in Annex II of Regulation (EU)672/2010 to allow for a reduction in the period that the cold chamber must be maintained at the specified test temperature. Regulation 4 also amends the requirements for the ammonia solution which must be applied to windscreens during defrosting and demisting testing and makes provision for the required positioning of test apparatus.

Regulation 5 updates the test requirements for windscreen wiper and washer systems to permit the type approval of windscreen washer systems designed to incorporate functionality for excessive pressure mitigation resulting from blocked nozzles.

Regulation 6 updates four of the European Committee for Standardisation standards on the emergency call (eCall) in-vehicle system to phase in compliance with systems that operate on 4G and 5G networks.

Regulation 7 amends Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 to make permanent the time-limited waiver permitting the acceptance of EU component certifications.

Regulation 8 updates type approval requirements for seat belt anchorages to bring them in line with UN Regulation No 145 and makes compliance with UN Regulation No 157, a UNECE standard which sets out uniform provisions for the approval of vehicles equipped with Automated Lane Keeping Systems, compulsory for M category vehicles fitted with Automated Lane Keeping Systems by inserting a new Annex XII (UN regulations required for GB type-approval). Regulation 8 also permits UN Regulation No 144, a UNECE standard which sets out uniform provisions for the approval of vehicles equipped with Accident Emergency Call Components, to be accepted as an alternative to the regulatory measures listed in Part I of Annex II for eCall components and separate technical units.

The UN Regulations are issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Copies of the UN Regulations referred to in these Regulations can be obtained from the UNECE website: https://unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs.html. Hard copies may be obtained from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR.

The net costs imposed on business, the voluntary sector and the public sector by these Regulations have been assessed as being less than £10m in any year and therefore a full impact assessment has not been prepared.

An Explanatory Memorandum and a de minimis assessment have been prepared and are available alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk. Hard copies may be obtained from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR.