Vehicle rules, chemicals added, moth habitat

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice records a set of Environment-related actions made under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. It: updates how some vehicle and engine rules work (to line up with recent U.S. rule changes), adds two chemicals to the Non‑domestic Substances List, and announces that critical habitat for the Nuttall’s Sheep Moth (Hemileuca nuttalli) in two protected areas will receive SARA protections after 90 days from publication.

What it does#

• Issues the Interim Order Modifying the Operation of Certain Regulations Made Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (made November 24, 2025). Key changes:
  • For the On‑Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations, the term “medium‑duty passenger vehicle” is made to match how that term appears in the relevant U.S. Code of Federal Regulations as it read on June 18, 2024.
  • For the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, references to a maximum gross vehicle weight rating are changed so instances of 4 536 kg (10,000 pounds) are read as 6 350 kg (14,000 pounds).
  • For the Heavy‑duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations, trailers whose manufacture was completed on or after January 1, 2020 are not covered by those Regulations.
  • The Interim Order made on January 31, 2025 is repealed.
  • The Interim Order is temporary and will cease to have effect one year after it was made unless earlier repealed or acted on by amending those regulations.
• Makes Order 2025‑66‑11‑02 Amending the Non‑domestic Substances List (signed December 4, 2025; comes into force on publication). It adds:
  • 157707‑72‑7
  • 19796‑4 — “Alkenoic acid‑, alkyl ester, reaction product with glycerol trioleate and sulfur”
• Announces under the Species at Risk Act that the recovery strategy’s critical habitat for the Nuttall’s Sheep Moth found within the Vaseux‑Bighorn National Wildlife Area and the Vaseux Lake Bird Sanctuary will be subject to federal protection rules in 90 days after this publication (publication date: December 13, 2025).

Who's affected#

• Vehicle and engine manufacturers, importers and distributors — especially makers of medium‑duty and light‑duty vehicles and trailers. The definitional and coverage changes can change which products must meet Canadian emissions or greenhouse‑gas rules.
• Fleet owners and large vehicle purchasers who rely on regulatory classifications for compliance and procurement.
• Trailer manufacturers and sellers: trailers finished on or after January 1, 2020 are specifically excluded from the heavy‑duty GHG rule under this Interim Order.
• Chemical manufacturers, importers and anyone who deals with new or imported industrial chemicals: adding substances to the Non‑domestic Substances List can trigger notification, assessment, or reporting duties under CEPA.
• People, communities, land managers, and organizations active in the south Okanagan Valley (British Columbia) — especially users of the Vaseux‑Bighorn National Wildlife Area and Vaseux Lake Bird Sanctuary — because critical habitat for the Nuttall’s Sheep Moth will gain additional federal protections after 90 days.

Why it matters#

• Aligning Canadian vehicle definitions with recent U.S. regulatory language can change which vehicles are treated as light, medium or heavy. That affects which emissions and greenhouse‑gas limits apply, and can change compliance costs or design choices for manufacturers and fleets.
• Excluding certain trailers from Canada’s heavy‑duty GHG rules could reduce regulatory obligations for trailer makers and buyers, but may also affect how emissions from trucking combinations are counted across the supply chain.
• Adding chemicals to the Non‑domestic Substances List matters because it can start official federal screening or assessment steps. Companies that make, import, or use those chemicals may face new reporting or testing expectations.
• Declaring critical habitat for the Nuttall’s Sheep Moth in federal protected areas means that activities that could destroy that habitat may be restricted or require permits. This helps protect a species found only in a small part of British Columbia, and can affect local land use, conservation work, and some development or recreational activities.