The 2026 LEDr picture is not one single approval status
H11 has an established harmonized LED replacement category route. H8, H16 and HB4 were introduced through the 2026 R.E.5 Amendment 12 package. H7 and H4 still do not have adopted harmonized Group 5 LED replacement category sheets in the reviewed R.E.5 material, although specific products can use national or application-specific approval routes.
H9, H10, HB3 and HIR2 are on a 2026 GRE submission track. H10 already has a public draft category sheet. If the formal process proceeds without material delay, 2027 is a reasonable publication or adoption window to watch, but it should not be presented as a guaranteed legal-effective date.
Category status still does not prove that a supplier's exact bulb is approved. Product type approval, installation scope and destination-market recognition remain separate checks.
The 2026 LED replacement category map
| Category | Current reading | Practical wording |
|---|---|---|
| H11 LEDr | Established Group 5 category; Configuration-2 details added through the 2024 amendment | Established category route; exact product approval still required |
| H8, H16, HB4 LEDr | Introduced through the 2026 R.E.5 Amendment 12 package | Formal category route; exact product approval and use still required |
| H7, H4 LEDr | No adopted harmonized Group 5 category sheet identified | National/application-specific approvals may exist for named products and applications |
| H10 LEDr | Public draft visible; part of the 2026 progression track | Advanced development stage; not yet treated here as adopted |
| H9, HB3, HIR2 LEDr | 2026 GRE submission track | Submission-stage outlook; 2027 is a conditional window, not a fixed approval date |
This is a status map, not a certificate database. Drafts, submissions, adopted category sheets and product approvals are different stages.
H11 shows the difference between a category and an approved product
H11 LEDr existed before the 2024 Configuration-2 amendment. A verified product example is the AZMK EB-H11, with UN R37 approval E8*37R03/49*0106*00 and separate R10 EMC approval E8*10R06/03*17720*00. The category exists at one level; the product needs its own approval at another.
H8, H16 and HB4 expanded the harmonized category set
ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/41 carried the Amendment 12 package introducing H8, H16 and HB4 LED replacement category sheets. The WP.29 198th-session record documents action on that package. For a category-by-category view, see H11, H8, H16 and HB4 LEDr Categories Explained.
The existence of the category route is only the starting point. A commercial bulb still needs matching product approval, marking and applicable use conditions.
H7 and H4 still need different wording
No adopted harmonized Group 5 H7 or H4 LED replacement category sheet was identified in the reviewed R.E.5 material. Specific products can still use national or application-specific approval routes tied to named markets, vehicles, headlamps and required accessories.
That is why “H7 LEDr approved” or “H4 street legal in Europe” is too broad without the actual approval route and scope.
H9, H10, HB3 and HIR2 are moving through the 2026 cycle
H10 already has visible public draft material from GRE94. The wider H9, H10, HB3 and HIR2 group is on a 2026 GRE submission track. GRE95 is scheduled for 20 to 23 October 2026; its public agenda and document lists were still forthcoming at the time of this review.
If the 2026 submissions progress without major delay, 2027 is a reasonable window for formal publication or adoption steps. That is an outlook, not a promise that the categories will be “legal from 2027.”
Five checks before accepting an LEDr claim
- Identify the category status and approval route.
- Match the exact product to its approval communication and physical marking.
- Confirm application scope and required accessories.
- Verify destination-market recognition.
- Check that current production still matches the approved type.
These checks prevent a category announcement from being mistaken for a product certificate or a national approval from being presented as a universal claim.
Common 2026 status questions
Is H11 LEDr established?
Yes. Exact product approval and applicable market requirements still need verification.
Are H7 and H4 harmonized LEDr categories?
No adopted Group 5 H7 or H4 LED replacement category sheet was identified in the reviewed R.E.5 material as of 21 July 2026.
Are H9, H10, HB3 and HIR2 expected to move forward in 2026?
Yes. They are on a 2026 GRE submission track, with H10 already represented by a public draft.
Does that guarantee publication in 2027?
No. 2027 is a reasonable expected window if the formal process proceeds without material delay.
Official sources
- UNECE, Consolidated Resolution R.E.5 register
- ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/156, H11 Configuration-2 amendment
- ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/41, R.E.5 Amendment 12 proposal
- UNECE, WP.29 198th session and report
- UNECE, GRE 94 public documents
- UNECE, GRE 95 session page
Status checked 21 July 2026. Planned submission, category adoption and product approval are separate stages.
Jack Liu
Jack Liu has worked in automotive LED lighting since 2011 and began designing LED automotive headlight products in 2015. Since 2017, he has concentrated on automotive lighting regulations, particularly LED replacement light sources (LEDr), approval requirements, regulatory definitions, and how product design and optical performance affect legal compliance. Drawing on hands-on product development experience and research into official UNECE and other regulatory documents, he writes to make complex automotive lighting rules clearer and more practical for manufacturers, brands, importers and technical teams.