From AAIA Capital Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Nov. 9 that it is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to reduce the number of vehicles and engines imported into the U.S. that are in violation of the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act mandates that most imported engines and vehicles meet federal emissions standards for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Vehicles imported into the U.S. are required to have an emissions control label and an EPA certificate showing that the imports meet the requirements.

EPA and CBP are working together to prevent engines and vehicles in violation of the act from entering the U.S., with extra focus on importers who are known to have violated the Clean Air Act in the past. CBP’s role is to identify shipments and put them on hold for EPA inspection. Any vehicles or engines found by EPA to be uncertified are then seized by CBP. According to EPA, more than $6.5 million of vehicles and engines imported in the past year were in violation of the act.