Interim Order on Vehicle Emissions and DSL Change

Summary#

The Government published an Interim Order Modifying the Operation of Certain Regulations Made Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that changes how some vehicle and engine emission rules work in Canada. It also published a notice proposing to remove the significant new activity (SNAc) requirement for the chemical **1,2-oxathiolane, 2,2-dioxide (CAS 1120-71-4) and made an equivalency agreement about methane releases in British Columbia available for review.

What it does#

• Interim Order (made January 31, 2025):

  • Revises the definition of “medium‑duty passenger vehicle” in the On‑Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations to match a specific U.S. Code of Federal Regulations reference.
  • Changes a weight/reference used in the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations so that the reference to 4 536 kg (10,000 pounds) is read as 6 350 kg (14,000 pounds) and updates a related section reference used for plug‑in hybrid calculations.
  • Temporarily suspends the trailer provisions in the Heavy‑duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations so those rules do not apply to trailers whose manufacture was completed on or after January 1, 2020.
  • The Order is temporary and will stop having effect after one year from the date it was made, unless it is repealed or the underlying regulations are changed sooner.

• Notice of intent to amend the Domestic Substances List:

  • Proposes to remove the SNAc requirements for 1,2‑oxathiolane, 2,2‑dioxide (CAS 1120-71-4) and move it from Part 2 to Part 1 of the DSL.
  • The public can comment for 60 days from February 22, 2025.

• Equivalency agreement (made available February 22, 2025):

  • 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 was posted on the CEPA registry before being entered into.

Who's affected#

• Vehicle and engine manufacturers and importers, especially those that build or import trailers and medium‑ or heavy‑duty vehicles.
• Companies that design or certify plug‑in hybrid and light‑duty vehicles.
• Businesses that handle or supply **1,2‑oxathiolane, 2,2‑dioxide (CAS 1120-71-4) — chemical users and suppliers who previously would have faced SNAc notification requirements.
• Upstream oil and gas operators, regulators and industry in British Columbia who would be covered by the methane equivalency agreement.
• Environmental groups, regulators, and others tracking vehicle emissions and industrial methane rules.
  If it’s unclear whether a specific company or product is affected, they should check the full texts or contact the responsible department.

Why it matters#

• For vehicle and trailer makers this changes which technical rules they must follow in Canada. That can affect how vehicles are certified, tested, reported, or imported. The change to trailer coverage is temporary and may be reversed or replaced within a year.
• For businesses using the named chemical, rescinding the SNAc means fewer pre‑activity notification requirements. The government says its assessment found no cause for health or environmental concern for the notified uses.
• The methane equivalency agreement matters because it can let British Columbia enforce rules that federal regulators consider equivalent, which may reduce overlapping requirements for oil and gas companies in BC.
• The DSL change is at the consultation stage (public comment open for 60 days). The Interim Order is temporary, so affected parties should watch for final decisions or regulatory amendments.