Less than a week after Trump issued a memorandum requesting EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to clarify vehicle owners’ repair rights and explore alternatives for certifying emissions-compliant aftermarket parts, the agency has delivered.

The new EPA guidance reaffirmed that manufacturers must provide independent repair shops and vehicle owners with the same emissions-related service information, tools, and training materials they make available to their dealers.

According to the EPA, this applies to light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles and includes access to diagnostic information and tools needed to repair emissions systems, including DEF components. The agency also reiterated that consumers are allowed to use generic, equivalent replacement parts for emissions systems, though using noncertified parts could affect warranty coverage.

The agency emphasized that this update does not change existing emissions laws or standards and does not require manufacturers to disclose proprietary software code or other protected intellectual property.

The EPA also announced it has recognized the Specialty Equipment Market Association's (SEMA) Certified Emissions (SC-E) Program as a new certification authority for aftermarket vehicle parts in addition to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which was previously the only certification process recognized by the EPA.

According to the agency, allowing SEMA's program to certify compliant aftermarket emissions parts is intended to expand the supply of legal replacement components and reduce costs and repair delays for vehicle owners and independent repair facilities.

“This EPA recognition of the SEMA Certified-Emissions program by the EPA is nothing short of a pioneering action by the federal government to utilize private-public partnerships in service to industry regulatory compliance efforts," said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola. "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.”

"Today’s action builds on the great work the Trump Administration has accomplished to lower costs for hard-working Americans," Zeldin said in a statement. "The freedom to fix allows operators to fix broken machinery easier and faster."