The road is clear for I-size child seats

ANEC welcomes the adoption of a new regulation on child-restraint systems (the “I-size Regulation”) by UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP 29).

Work on the first phase of the new regulation (integral harness ISOFIX), which will provide better protection to younger children travelling by car, started in 2008. Besides other improvements, consumer groups are particularly pleased that the new regulation requires the mandatory rear-facing transport of children up to 15 months of age; provides side impact protection for the first time and aims to reduce incorrect fitment of the child seat. ANEC/CI continues to contribute to the development of the second phase of the new regulation on non-integral CRS.

Ronald Vroman, who has been representing ANEC and Consumers International (CI) in the expert group that developed the new regulation, commented: “ANEC and CI welcome the adoption of the new and more consumer friendly I-size regulation which will be implemented also in EU legislation. There is no doubt it will offer greater safety to the youngest consumers. Moreover, we must thank the European Commission for its efforts in to ensuring support for the timely adoption of the regulation.”

Stephen Russell, ANEC Secretary-General, added: “With the adoption of the regulation, the road is clear for car manufacturers and the producers of child restraint systems (CRS) to work towards the implementation of I-size CRS and have them on sale from summer 2013. The new I-size CRS will protect children better and be easier for parents to fit in I-size ready vehicles. Despite recommendations from safety experts and paediatricians on the better protection offered to young children by rearward-facing transport until two or three years of age, the current ECE R 44 regulation encourages forward-facing transport from when the child reaches 9 kg (which is sometimes reached at 6 months of age). The new regulation requires rearward-facing transport until the child is 15 months of age. We trust the reduction in fatalities and serious injuries we expect to see after implementation of the regulation will lead to the age limit being raised further in a future revision of the regulation”.

ANEC urges that the transition period, during which CRS approved under ECE R 44 will continue to be sold alongside I-size CRS, be kept as short as possible for the relevant group of CRS (first phase: integral harness ISOFIX, second phase: non-integral CRS) to ensure children benefit from the higher level of protection as soon as possible.

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European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation, AISBL

Av. de Tervueren 32, box 27 – B-1040 Brussels, Belgium - phone +32-2-743 24 70 - fax +32-2-706 54 30

E-mail: anec@anec.eu - internet: www.anec.eu

ANEC in brief

Raising standards for consumers

ANEC is the European consumer voice in standardisation, defending consumer interests in the processes of technical standardisation and conformity assessment as well as related legislation and public policies. ANEC was established in 1995 as an international non-profit association under Belgian law and represents consumer organisations from 33 European countries. ANEC is funded by the European Union and EFTA, with national consumer organisations contributing in kind. Its Secretariat is based in Brussels.

More information: www.anec.eu