Interim Order on Vehicle Emissions & DSL Change

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice from the Department of the Environment includes three items: an interim order under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that temporarily changes how some vehicle and engine emission rules operate; a proposed removal of the significant‑new‑activity rule that currently applies to 1,2-oxathiolane, 2,2-dioxide (CAS 1120-71-4) from the Domestic Substances List; and the posting of an equivalency agreement with British Columbia on methane rules. These changes affect vehicle and trailer regulation, a specific chemical’s reporting requirements, and how federal and provincial methane rules may interact.

What it does#

• Interim Order (made January 31, 2025) that adjusts how three vehicle-related regulations work:
  • Changes the definition of “medium‑duty passenger vehicle” in the On‑Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations so it matches the equivalent U.S. Code of Federal Regulations wording.
  • In the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, changes the weight reference in the definitions of “automobile” and “work truck” from 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) to 6,350 kg (14,000 pounds), and updates a cross-reference to the U.S. CFR.
  • Temporarily suspends the trailer provisions of the Heavy‑duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, so those regulations “do not apply to trailers whose manufacture is completed on or after January 1, 2020.” The Order is temporary and will cease to have effect no later than one year after it was made, or sooner if replaced by regulation.
• Notice of intent to amend the Domestic Substances List:
  • Proposes to remove the significant‑new‑activity (SNAc) requirement for 1,2-oxathiolane, 2,2-dioxide (CAS 1120-71-4), moving it from Part 2 to Part 1 of the DSL.
  • Environment and Health Canada reviewed a significant new activity notification for this substance and say they found no concerns with the notified use.
  • Public comment period: 60 days from publication (February 22, 2025). Comments can be submitted online, by email to substances@ec.gc.ca, or by mail.
• Notice of availability:
  • The Agreement on the Equivalency of Federal and British Columbia Regulations Respecting the Release of Methane from the Oil and Gas Sector in British Columbia, 2025 is being made available on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act registry as of February 22, 2025, before it is finalized.

Who's affected#

• Vehicle and engine makers, importers, certifiers and fleet operators. The interim order changes which vehicles fall under certain Canadian emissions and greenhouse‑gas rules.
• Trailer manufacturers and sellers, because trailers completed on or after January 1, 2020 are temporarily treated as outside the federal heavy‑duty GHG regulation.
• Companies that make, import, use or sell 1,2-oxathiolane, 2,2-dioxide (CAS 1120-71-4) — they would no longer need to submit a pre‑use significant new activity notification if the change is finalized.
• Oil and gas operators, regulators, and provincial authorities in British Columbia — the equivalency agreement affects whether federal methane rules or B.C.’s rules apply in that province.
• Members of the public and stakeholders who want to comment — especially those with information about the chemical or the proposed equivalency agreement.

Why it matters#

• For industry: these changes can change compliance obligations. Aligning some Canadian rules with U.S. definitions and pausing trailer requirements may reduce mismatches between markets and change what firms must test, certify, or report.
• For the chemical sector: removing the SNAc for 1,2-oxathiolane, 2,2-dioxide would reduce paperwork and pre‑market notifications for uses of that substance because regulators judged the notified uses to pose low risk.
• For communities and regulators: the methane equivalency agreement could let B.C.’s methane rules stand in place of federal rules within the province, which can reduce overlap but means scrutiny will focus on how equivalent protections are.
• For the public: these are regulatory changes that can affect vehicle emissions coverage, chemical oversight, and how methane releases from oil and gas are governed in B.C. If you have concerns or information, the Gazette gives a 60‑day window to comment on the proposed DSL change.