EPA acts on Trump’s ‘Freedom to Fix’ memo

Following President Donald Trump’s “Freedom to Fix” memorandum, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) as an alternative certification authority for certifying aftermarket parts as compliant with the Clean Air Act (CAA). 

The EPA also simultaneously announced that it affirms that vehicle manufacturers must provide Americans access to the same service and repair information made available to their own branded service. 

The statement mirrors language within a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between automakers, independent repairers, and aftermarket part retailers. Automakers reaffirmed the MOU in a 2023 agreement with the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). 

“For years, manufacturers have worked to provide consumers and independent repair shops with the same diagnostic and repair information they provide to franchised dealers,” EPA’s release states. “However, the CAA anti-tampering laws have caused some confusion regarding whether giving out certain tools and information would be considered enabling the tampering of emission control systems.”

It adds that this has forced consumers to travel to get repairs done by manufacturers when it could have been done at home or at a local repair shop. 

“The CAA clearly states that temporary overrides of emission control systems are allowed when it is for the ‘purpose of repair’ to that equipment to obtain proper functionality,” the release states. “EPA’s guidance, therefore, clarifies that light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers have a long-standing legal obligation to release the service information, training information, and tools necessary to diagnose and repair vehicles, including faulty DEF systems, on reasonable terms.” 

The EPA notes that manufacturers cannot require the use of their branded parts and Americans can use generic, equivalent parts when repairing emissions control systems, including DEF systems. 

“However, if a consumer chooses to use a non-certified part, the CAA does not guarantee warranty relief,” the release states. “Today’s actions do not change the law, weaken emission standards, or reduce compliance obligations. The obligations laid out in EPA’s guidance do not extend to those proprietary elements of manufacturers’ designs, software codes, or any other intellectual proprietary or confidential business information that is currently protected from disclosure in accordance with the CAA.”

Trump’s “Freedom to Fix” memorandum asks the EPA to clarify how people can conduct emissions repairs and deprioritizes tampering enforcement actions against anyone who fixes their vehicle to its original configuration.

The memo discusses the past environmental regulatory burdens made by the previous administration. It adds that consumers and aftermarket parts manufacturers and resellers have faced uncertainty concerning whether aftermarket parts may be used in repairs due to the CAA prohibition on tampering and emissions controls. 

It goes on to discuss how the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the only certification process currently recognized for aftermarket parts.

EPA’s press release adds that the certification takes 12 to 18 months to complete, which leaves small businesses and the majority of aftermarket suppliers sidelined. 

It adds that the process has allowed Chinese counterfeits to flood the market. 

EPA was told to encourage submissions and act on any requests from organizations capable of testing aftermarket parts for conformance with the CAA. 

The EPA’s approval of SEMA as an alternative certification authority on Tuesday allows for aftermarket parts to be verified as CAA-compliant through SEMA’s Certified Emissions (SC-E) Program. 

According to the EPA, SEMA’s approval as a certification authority lowers barriers for small businesses looking to enter the $500 billion aftermarket industry. It adds that this will also reduce Chinese knockoffs and expand Americans’ ability to fix their equipment. 

“Americans should not be forced to solely rely on California to certify aftermarket products,” said Lee Zeldin, EPA administrator, in the release. “Starting today, Americans can trust that products certified by SEMA meet federal requirements and can be used to repair vehicles.” 

To meet compliance, aftermarket manufacturers must prove vehicles equipped with their products can still pass the same emission tests used during the vehicle’s original certification process. 

SEMA requested that the EPA evaluate its SC-E Program in April 2026, the release states. The EPA determined it does meet federal requirements after reviewing materials submitted, according to the release.  

“Today, the EPA has verified what SEMA for years has told regulators at the state and federal levels: that the automotive aftermarket industry has a precise mechanism to support emissions testing compliance with federal laws, and it’s called SEMA Certified-Emissions,” said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola in a SEMA press release.

“This EPA recognition of the SEMA Certified-Emissions program is nothing short of a pioneering action by the federal government to utilize private-public partnerships in service to industry regulatory compliance efforts. We’re beyond pleased to continue to provide this service to aftermarket businesses so they can bring their innovative products to the market, and with a renewed certainty that our nation’s clean-air laws are being followed.”

The release notes that the SC-E program is the product of years of heavy investment and development by SEMA.

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