New SEMA Program Seeks To Accelerate Aftermarket Upgrade Legality

Creating a fast track to emissions compliance.

As the world comes to grips with the realities of anthropogenic climate change, racing enthusiasts and the aftermarket companies that support them seem to be caught in the crossfire. Luckily, the Speciality Equipment Market Association, better known as SEMA, is now offering a new path to expedite the go-fast good stuff we all know and love.

SEMA recently introduced the SEMA Certified-Emissions program, or SC-E, which helps aftermarket parts manufacturers to quickly certify components as emissions legal under the EPA's latest "Tampering Policy," thus ensuring that the parts get the green light to sell and install throughout the majority of the U.S.

"It's now easier than ever for manufacturers to demonstrate emissions compliance," said SEMA vice president of OEM and product development programs, Mike Spagnola. "SEMA Certified-Emissions is a major accomplishment in accelerating a manufacturer's ability to get products to market, and it paves the path to obtaining emissions compliance in all 50 states."

Although the new program will give manufacturers a shot at verifying a product as meeting the EPA's "reasonable basis" criteria for sale in 49 states, manufacturers must still obtain an Executive Order (EO) from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in order to sell parts in California. However, SEMA says the new SC-E is comparable to the CARB EO requirements, and thus could help to accelerate the time required to get the part to market in California as well.

"SC-E gives manufacturers much greater options and opportunities," said SEMA director of emissions compliance, Peter Treydte. "This is a significant milestone in the industry's ability to provide products to consumers. We look forward to working with members and helping them go to market with SEMA Certified-Emissions products."

Back in September of 2021, SEMA worked to reintroduce the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (S. 2736), a.k.a. the RPM Act, in the U.S. Senate. The RPM Act is intended as a means of protecting businesses and the broader motorsport community from the EPA's recent reinterpretation of the 1970 Clean Air Act, wherein street cars would be ineligible for conversion to a race-only application.

A recent example would be PFI Speed, a shop in Colorado that was fined $18,000 for selling 37 Hondata S300 "piggyback" engine control units (ECUs) over a two-year timespan. PFI Speed is one of the latest small businesses targeted by the EPA for selling and installing so-called "defeat devices," with the regulatory agency drawing no distinction between street-driven vehicles and race cars that were converted from street cars.