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Environment Canada Vehicle Emission Requirements

Canadian and U.S. federal emission standards for various classes of on-road and off-road vehicles and engines, including passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, gasoline-fuelled engines found in lawn and garden and light-duty industrial machines and diesel-fueled engines found in construction, mining, farming and forestry machines are closely aligned. Consequently, vehicles and engines designed, built and certified for sale in the United States should generally be eligible for sale in Canada.

Specifically, any vehicle or engine that has been sold at the retail level in the United States and that is being permanently imported into Canada by a person for its own use shall

bear the national emissions mark;
bear a label showing that the vehicle or engine conformed to the emission standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in effect at the time of its manufacture;
bear a label showing that the vehicle or engine conformed to the emission standards of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in effect at the time of its manufacture; or
be the subject of a statement from the manufacturer or its duly authorized representative that the vehicle or engine conformed to the standards set out in the Canadian emission regulations, or to the standards referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) above, at the time of its manufacture.

A person that sells or offers for sale any vehicle or engine in Canada that has been purchased at the retail level in the United States is responsible for ensuring that the product complies with the Canadian emission legislation and regulations, and is required to maintain evidence of such conformity.

Vehicles and engines that have been modified from their original state, other than regular maintenance, may not be eligible for importation into Canada. This includes the removal of or modification to the emission control system.

[DISCLAIMER – The RIV inspection process does not confirm that a U.S. specification vehicle is compliant to Canadian emission standards prior to provincial/territorial licensing and registration in Canada. The importer or his duly authorized agent is required to make a signed declaration that the vehicle bears the national emissions mark, the vehicle emission control information label applied by the vehicle manufacturer, or that evidence of conformity can be produced. Please refer to the Environment Canada web site for additional information concerning the Canadian emission legislation and regulations.]

Below is a list of the Canadian emission legislation and regulations along with internet links.

Canadian Environment Protection Act, 1999, Division 5 An Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development. http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=24374285-1&offset=8&toc=show#e

Compliance and Enforcement Policy
http://www.ec.gc.ca/Publications/default.asp?lang=En&xml=326F7BE8-0483-4995-8E0E-F09719D202B8

On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations
The Regulations establish air pollutant emission standards for various classes of on-road vehicles and engines, including passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, etc. The Regulations apply to vehicles and engines manufactured after January 1, 2004.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=65

Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations
The Regulations establish air pollutant emission standards for small spark-ignition engines rated up to 19 kW (25 hp). Small spark-ignition engines are typically gasoline-fuelled engines found in lawn and garden machines (hedge trimmers, brush cutters, lawnmowers, garden tractors, snowblowers, etc.), in light-duty industrial machines (generator sets, welders, pressure washers, etc.), and in light-duty logging machines (chainsaws, log splitters, shredders, etc.). The Regulations apply to 2005 and later model-year engines.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=81

Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations
The Regulations establish air pollutant emission standards for diesel engines used in off-road applications such as those typically found in construction, mining, farming and forestry machines. The Regulations apply to engines of the 2006 and later model year.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=88

Marine Spark-Ignition Engine, Vessel and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations
The Regulations establish air pollutant emission standards for marine spark-ignition outboard engines, personal watercraft, inboard engines, vessels, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles of the 2012 and later model years.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=109

Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations
The Regulations establish greenhouse gas emission standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks of the 2011 and later model years.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=192

Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations
The Regulations establish greenhouse gas emission standards for on-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines of the 2014 and later model years.
http://ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/eng/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=214