ECE regulations
The ECE regulations (UN regulations) are technical regulations that are developed by the “World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations” (WP.29) under the umbrella of the United Nations. They apply to numerous vehicle components, including lighting equipment. The regulations are constantly being adapted in line with technical progress. Components that have passed a test based on one or more ECE regulations may bear an ECE mark.
Main regulations on lighting technology
- Reg. 148: Rear position (stop), rear direction indicator and rear position (stop) lamps
- Reg. 149: Front lights (dipped beam, main beam and fog lights)
- Reg. 150: Retro-reflectors and reflective devices
Other relevant ECE regulations
- Reg. 10: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
- Reg. 65: Special signals and warning lights
- Reg. 48, Reg. 53, Reg. 86: Installation and mounting of lighting for different vehicle types
In the past, many ECE regulations were distributed across individual lighting functions. For example, Reg. 112 regulated high beams and Reg. 119 regulated cornering lights. With the restructuring, numerous individual regulations were merged, for example in Reg. 148, which now bundles several lighting functions into a single regulation.
However, since many data sheets, product labels, or older approval documents still use the old regulation numbers, we have compared the previous regulations with the current ones in the following table. This allows you to see at a glance which regulation is currently valid and which one it has replaced.
Comparison of old vs. new ECE regulations
| Old | New | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reg. 3 | Reg. 150-A | Reflectors for motor vehicles |
| Reg. 4 | Reg. 148-A | Rear license plate illumination |
| Reg. 5 | Reg. 149-HC | Sealed beam headlamps |
| Reg. 6 | Reg. 148-A | Direction indicator |
| Reg. 7 | Reg. 148-1a | Front and rear position (side) lamps, stop lamps |
| Reg. 10 | No change | Radio interference |
| Reg. 19 | Reg. 149-B | Fog lamps |
| Reg. 23 | Reg. 148-R | Reversing lamps |
| Reg. 38 | Reg. 148-F | Rear fog lamps |
| Reg. 48 | No change | Installation of lighting devices |
| Reg. 50 | Reg. 148-M | Lamps for mopeds and motorcycles |
| Reg. 53 | No change | Installation of lighting devices (motorcycles) |
| Reg. 56 | Reg. 149-M | Headlamps for mopeds |
| Reg. 57 | Reg. 149-MC | Headlamps for motorcycles |
| Reg. 65 | No change | Beacons for flashing (rotating) lights |
| Reg. 86 | No change | Installation of lighting devices (agricultural and forestry vehicles) |
| Reg. 87 | No change | Daytime running lights for motor vehicles. |
| Reg. 91 | No change | Side marker lights |
| Reg. 112 | Reg. 149-HC-R | Asymmetrical low/high beam |
| Reg. 113 | Reg. 149-HC-S | Symmetrical low/high beam |
| Reg. 119 | Reg. 149-WC-CS | Cornering lamps |
| Reg. 123 | Reg. 149-AFS | Adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS) |
The regulations listed here are those that are relevant for our products. A comprehensive overview of all current ECE regulations (including the full text) is provided by the UNECE on its website: UNECE Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). All documents and information on the current legal status, revised versions and planned innovations can be found there.
Scope of ECE regulations
The ECE regulations were originally developed for the European market. However, they are based on UN resolutions and therefore apply in many other countries. Countries such as Japan, Australia and Russia recognize them to a large extent or have incorporated them into national law.