Environment Canada and Climate Change (ECCC) issued a letter is to raise awareness amongst manufacturers and importers of the upcoming importation deadline of December 31st, 2021 for the last remaining transition engine timeframe under the recently repealed and replaced Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations (CI Regulations). Failure to comply with the regulations is a punishable offence, so it’s crucial importers and manufacturers are aware of this deadline.
Pursuant to subsection 54(2) of the Off-road Compression-Ignition (Mobile and Stationary) and Large Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations (CI-LSI Regulations), the provisions of the CI Regulations continue to apply to transition engines within the meaning of section 13 of the CI Regulations. The transition engine provisions set out in section 13 of the CI Regulations allow, for certain periods of time, the import and manufacture of engines meeting previous-tier standards, as long as they are installed in or on a machine in Canada before the end of the set timeframes. Under these provisions, you can import engines of the following power category and model year meeting previous-tier standards into Canada until December 31, 2021, but not after this date.
| Power (kW) | Model Years | Emission Standard | Importation and Installation Deadline |
| > 560 kW | 2015+ | Interim Tier 4 | Dec 31, 2021 |
- For loose transition engines, importation and installation in or on a machine in Canada must occur on or before the deadline
- For transition engines installed in or on a machine, importation into Canada must occur on or before the deadline
This marks the final expiration of the transition engine timeframes. After December 31st, 2021, engines of any power category and model year meeting previous emission standards, instead of the standards in place at the time of their manufacture, will not be admissible into Canada. These engines may be identified through review of the emission control information label affixed to the engine. Transition engines bearing the Canadian label will indicate ‘this is a transition engine’ and those bearing the U.S. EPA label will indicate that the engine meets U.S. EPA emission standards under 40 CFR 89.102 or 40 CFR 1039.625.
Please be aware that although the emission standards of the regulations align with those of the U.S. EPA, the provisions under the regulations are different. There are no provisions under the regulations that provide ECCC the authority to extend the importation period or allow for the importation of transition engines after the deadline regardless of the date of manufacture or the location of the engine or the machine equipped with such engine.
Importers who are bringing a regulated product into Canada or manufacturers producing such a product in Canada are responsible for ensuring they meet the applicable emission standards and that the administrative requirements. Individuals or companies who do not meet the requirements of the regulations may be subject to the following enforcement regulations and policy:
- The Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations
- The Compliance and Enforcement Policy
For additional information, the CI Regulations along with a technical guidance document are available on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 Registry at here.
If you have any questions related to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact ECCC’s Transportation Division directly at the e-mail address or phone number provided below:
Regulatory Compliance Management Team | Transportation Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gatineau, Québec K1A 0H3
[email protected]
Tel # 819-420-4216 or toll free 1-844-454-9017