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. This recognition allows SEMA to certify aftermarket parts as compliant with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The EPA also affirmed that vehicle manufacturers must provide Americans access to the same service and repair information made available to their own branded service centers. This statement echoes language found in a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between automakers, independent repairers, and aftermarket part retailers. Automakers reaffirmed this 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. 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.

Epa guidance clarified

The EPA's release adds that this confusion has forced consumers to travel for repairs by manufacturers, even when the work 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. 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. Americans are allowed to 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. 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 memo background

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

The memo discussed past environmental regulatory burdens imposed by the previous administration. It noted that consumers and aftermarket parts manufacturers and resellers have faced uncertainty regarding the use of aftermarket parts in repairs due to the CAA's prohibition on tampering and emissions controls.

It further highlighted that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been the only currently recognized certification process for aftermarket parts. The EPA’s press release elaborated that this certification process takes 12 to 18 months, sidelining small businesses and the majority of aftermarket suppliers. It also suggested that this lengthy process has allowed Chinese counterfeits to flood the market.

The EPA was directed to encourage submissions and act on requests from organizations capable of testing aftermarket parts for conformance with the CAA. The EPA’s recent approval of SEMA as an alternative certification authority now allows aftermarket parts to be verified as CAA-compliant through SEMA’s Certified Emissions (SC-E) Program.

Industry impact expected

According to the EPA, SEMA’s approval as a certification authority reduces barriers for small businesses looking to enter the $500 billion aftermarket industry. This is also expected to 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. Starting today, Americans can trust that products certified by SEMA meet federal requirements and can be used to repair vehicles.

To achieve compliance, aftermarket manufacturers must demonstrate that 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 EPA determined it meets federal requirements after reviewing submitted materials.

> 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. 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.