SEMA CERTIFIED-EMISSIONS PROGRAM EARNS EPA
“REASONABLE BASIS” RECOGNITION 

— SEMA Garage-developed certification verified as a proven pathway for aftermarket businesses to show compliance with federal clean air laws —

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 1, 2026) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a groundbreaking advisory opinion that states that a SEMA Certified-Emissions certification qualifies as a reasonable basis under the Tampering Policy and companies can rely on this certificate to demonstrate compliance. With this formal recognition, the EPA is establishing a regulatory pathway allowing for 49-state sales (excluding California) and reestablishes the federal government’s leadership on clean-air issues.  

“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. “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.” 

“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,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “President Donald Trump’s commitment to reviving the American auto industry has been unwavering and has already yielded hundreds of billions in new investments, supported American jobs, and expanded consumer choice. With the aftermarket sector being a key piece of the industry, the EPA is proud to deliver on the president’s agenda, for the small businesses producing aftermarket parts, and on behalf of the Americans who purchase those parts.”   

The EPA’s action directly responds to a June 29, 2026, presidential memorandum by President Trump that encouraged the agency to “expeditiously consider, and act on any requests from organizations capable of testing aftermarket parts for conformance with the CAA,” to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act and other relevant EPA regulations.

• This is a significant win for the automotive aftermarket, an economically significant industry made up of primarily small businesses who design and manufacture innovative, American-made, emissions law-compliant products that enhance the performance of cars and trucks across the globe.

The SEMA Certified-Emissions program is the product of years of heavy investment and development by the Specialty Equipment Market Association through its SEMA Garage program. The envisioned purpose of SEMA Certified-Emissions was to create a robust, sustainable, and practical pathway to Clean Air Act emissions compliance under federal law. As a result of this work, the SEMA Garage is now the automotive industry’s foremost venue for showing a documented, reasonable basis for aftermarket products having no adverse impact on emissions. 

In the last decade, previous administrations’ EPAs have ceded authority to California, enabling the state to serve as a de facto national regulator and require manufacturers to obtain California Air Resource Board (CARB) Executive Orders (EOs) to sell anywhere in the country. The EPA’s recognition of the SEMA Certified-Emissions program verifies a transparent, data-driven process to serve as an affordable, accelerated pathway for aftermarket companies to follow. It offers much-needed certainty for aftermarket businesses, particularly with regards to products that meet federal standards (i.e., internal combustion engine products). 

Additionally, recognition of the SEMA Certified-Emissions program rebalances EPA authority over Clean Air Act emissions compliance and provides manufacturers, retailers, and consumers with a viable, nationally recognized option for illustrating compliance. In particular, aftermarket businesses gain much-needed certainty, including those whose products where California has not provided a clear path to compliance.

SEMA thanks President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and the entire team at the EPA for their leadership and unyielding push to re-balance our nation’s environmental goals so that the ability of American businesses to thrive is never hindered.

WHAT THE AFTERMARKET INDUSTRY IS SAYING

BluePrint Engines Founder Norris Marshall: “The level of investment of resources and expertise that SEMA has made in its SEMA Certified-Emissions program really stands out as an asset for businesses like BluePrint Engines – it enables us to focus on bringing superior products to market by knowing that SEMA matches our expertise and experience with their rigorous attention to quality, in federal emissions compliance. Our industry’s products deserve to reach our customers in a timely manner, and the SEMA Certified-Emissions program is an important tool for providing the necessary documentation that the EPA expects, with the rigor that the American people deserve.” 

Holley Performance Vice President Aaron Stewart: “Holley is committed to performance, quality, and responsible business practices, including ensuring our products support emissions compliance and help consumers operate their vehicles legally and responsibly. The SEMA Certified-Emissions program provides an important and credible pathway for evaluating products against applicable emissions standards. It gives Holley confidence that our products are reviewed with compliance in mind and gives our customers confidence in the products they choose. We appreciate the SEMA Garage’s role in supporting responsible emissions compliance across the performance aftermarket industry. The program is important to Holley’s business, our customers, and the long-term credibility of the industry.” 

VMP Performance President Justin Starkey: “VMP Performance has been using the SEMA Garage for emissions compliance since its inception in 2015; we were actually the Garage’s first customer. We’ve poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into emissions testing and compliance. SEMA exhibiting leadership in this area is critical to the industry’s long-term success, and we finally have an alternative to the CARB EO process.”

Magnuson Superchargers CEO Kim Pendergast: “Magnuson Superchargers has filed for CARB EOs since the beginning. Jerry Magnuson, the founder and owner at the time, did it simply because he believed it was the right thing to do. He always said, ‘One day everyone will follow the EO process and we will already be there.’ When SEMA started their Certified program for emissions, Magnuson decided to use SEMA, even though we already had the internal capabilities; we liked the transparency of a third party’s validation. We hoped other members would sign on so we would all see the benefit of using the same system at the federal and state levels. That’s happening now. I hope more SEMA members will join SEMA Certified-Emissions. It helps all of us.” 

JASPER Engines & Transmissions Group Leader Brad Boeglin: “JASPER utilizes the SEMA Certified-Emissions program to support identification of worst-case vehicle and engine configurations, and to ensure our emissions testing strategy and documentation align with EPA reasonable basis requirements. SEMA’s technical review serves as an independent third-party validation of our emissions documentation and testing, reducing inconsistencies, rework, and delays. Overall, the SEMA Certified-Emissions program allows us to launch compliant products sooner while protecting both JASPER and our customers.” 

BD Diesel Director of Product Development Jeff Harris: “When our industry demanded greater focus on emission compliance and testing, the SEMA Garage stepped up as a great partner for both consulting and achieving compliance with our product. SEMA has helped guide our company’s emissions compliance statement as well as providing a third-party review process, enabling quicker compliance turnaround than traditional methods. The team at the SEMA Garage compliance center is always eager to help, and it is refreshing to have a point of contact that is readily available to help on our projects.” 

BACKGROUND

• The EPA is tasked with ensuring compliance with federal law as established by the Clean Air Act. Such action is guided by the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; among the areas this office is involved is engine tampering and aftermarket defeat devices. Violators are subject to significant civil penalties and even criminal prosecution, with the potential for prison terms. 
• Under EPA’s Tampering Policy, the agency typically does not take enforcement action for conduct that might be a violation of section 203(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act if the person engaging in the conduct has a documented “reasonable basis” to conclude that the conduct (or, where the conduct in question is the manufacturing or sale of a part or component, the installation and use of that part or component) does not and will not adversely affect emissions.
• SEMA Certified-Emissions is not a blank check to use a certified product in any way imaginable. Instead, SEMA Certified-Emissions products and components are tested and authorized for specific makes, models, model year, and engine configurations, providing a path to emissions compliance for companies and cleaner air for our communities.
• The SEMA Certified-Emissions program maintains a centralized, transparent database of compliant products. This publicly searchable database adds to manufacturers’, retailers’, consumers’, and federal stakeholders’ confidence in the integrity of our nation’s emissions standards.
• The SEMA Certified-Emissions program allows sales in 49 states; California sales still require a valid EO from CARB.  Nonetheless, EPA’s recognition of SEMA Certified-Emissions provides a new path to 49-state legal sales and allows CARB to return to its historic role serving the California market.

ABOUT SEMA
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. Business member benefits include product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy, and more. The Association organizes the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and actively supports the career and business opportunities that the aftermarket generates. The industry contributes nearly $337 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports 1.3 million jobs nationally, and generates nearly $53 billion in parts sales annually. For more information, visit www.sema.org.

ABOUT SEMA GARAGE
With locations in Diamond Bar, Calif., and Plymouth, Mich., the SEMA Garage helps SEMA member manufacturers develop products from start to finish. For many manufacturers, because the process includes demonstrating that a vehicle will remain emissions-compliant when the product is installed, SEMA provides the automotive industry’s foremost venue for showing a documented, reasonable basis for aftermarket products having no adverse impact on emissions. Visit www.semagarage.com to learn more.