UNECE is a custodian of wide range of transport-related legal instruments, regulations and recommendations which will, if implemented efficiently, assist member States in achieving SDGs. Especially, for road safety related targets, legal instruments developed under the UNECE auspices have assisted many countries in developing and enforcing traffic rules and measures and improving road safety management system; producing safe road vehicles; reducing the risk during the transport of dangerous goods and hazardous materials; and ensuring that only safe and well-maintained vehicles and competent drivers can participate in traffic.
The 1958 Agreement supports the type-approval system and provides for the system of mutual recognition of type approvals between countries that are parties to the Agreement and applying its annexed UN Regulations. The type-approval system requires that wheeled vehicles, their equipment and parts are, before market roll-out, "type approved" by a designated national authority - Type Approval Authority (TAA) upon testing carried out by designated Technical Services (entities that are delegated by TAA to carry out tests on vehicles, their equipment and parts, in accordance with the provisions of applicable UN Regulations). In addition, the 1958 Agreement stipulates a "conformity of production" procedure to ensure that each produced and marketed wheeled vehicle, equipment or part is in conformity with the type that was tested and granted approval. It sets the TAAs responsibilities for screening manufacturer's quality management processes, for verifying the existence of adequate arrangements and control plans to ensure a product's conformity, and for continuous verification processes to monitor the continued effectiveness of quality management and product conformity systems and processes. Moldova acceded to the 1958 Agreement in 2016, and in 2024, in response to the Road Safety Performance Review Moldova recommendations for safe vehicles, requested technical assistance from UNECE for the practical implementation of type-approval procedures.
The aim of the workshop is to strengthen knowledge of Moldovan experts on how to efficiently implement provisions of the 1958 Agreement and update national legislation to be in full conformity with the Agreement. The workshop will provide hands-on training on UN regulations for the approval/certification of new wheeled vehicles, type approval, reciprocal recognition under the 1958 Agreement, testing and monitoring methods. During the workshop, findings of the report “Recommendations on efficient implementation of the 1958 Agreement in Moldova” will be presented.