Harmonization Initiatives

Harmonization at the Regional (North American) Context

Harmonization of Automotive Safety Standards

Canada has no official policy to harmonize automotive safety standards with those in the United States. However, it is estimated that about 95% of the safety regulations of passenger cars are harmonized between Canada and the US. There are minor differences between the standards in the two countries; for example, air bags are not mandatory in Canada, and daytime lights are not mandatory in the United States.

Harmonization of Automotive Emissions Standards

Most of the Canadian vehicle emissions regulations were harmonized with those in the US in 1988.

With the amendment of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations in 1997, national vehicle emissions standards have been fully harmonized with those in the US under the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal emissions program. This amendment ensures that Canadian emissions standards will continue to be in harmony for each future model year.

Furthermore, the amendment extends the applicability of the emissions standards to include motor cycles and to gasoline and diesel fuel cover vehicles designed to operate on methanol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas. Under the amendment, emissions standards are more stringent and the period of use to which a company is required to demonstrate a vehicle's compliance with emissions certification and in-use standards is extended from five years or 80,000 km. to 10 years or 160, 000 km., whichever occurs first.

For specific safety standards in Canada, please visit the Transport Canada website (http://www.tc.gc.ca

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Automotive Standards Council (ASC)

The Canadian, Mexican and US governments, recognizing the importance of compatible standards, particularly from the viewpoint of removing potential trade irritants, established a tripartite council under the NAFTA to facilitate the attainment of compatible national standards related to automotive goods. To accomplish this objective, ASC may establish sub-groups in each of the three countries. In Canada, a working group under the auspices of the Automotive Advisory Committee on Standards and Regulations was established in 1997 to address issues such as emissions from on-road and off-road sources.

United Nations's Economic Commission for Europe Working Party 29 ( UN/ECE WP.29) - now called the World Forum of Vehicle Regulations WP. 29

UN/ECE WP.29 is an administrative body of the 1958 Agreement that provides a process for establishing uniform regulations regarding new motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment for reciprocal recognition, primarily for use in Europe. In 1999, a "Parallel Global Agreement" transformed WP.29 into a truly global group.

So far, eight countries including the United States, Japan, Europe, Russia, and Canada have signed the Parallel Agreement which came into effect in November 1999. In June 1999, Canada became the second member after the US to sign the Agreement. Canada is represented by Transport Canada and Environment Canada, assisted by Industry Canada at the WP 29 meetings.

The main purpose of the proposed "Parallel Global Agreement" would be to establish a process through which countries from all regions can jointly develop global technical regulations regarding environmental protection, energy efficiency, and safety relating to the performance of vehicles, engines and automotive parts, and mutually recognize the certification of these standards.

For more information, visit the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Automotive Regulatory Harmonization

The APEC Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG), established in 1994, has been working to reduce the regulatory barriers to trade in automotive products in APEC countries. Led by the US, the TPT-WG views regulation harmonization as a major step towards the removal of non-tariff barriers to automotive trade. It is committed to aligning automotive standards/regulations across all countries with international standards, and to achieving mutual recognition of conformity assessment of regulations and voluntary standards among all APEC economies.

The APEC Automotive Dialogue was created in 1999 to encourage the exchange of ideas between the automotive industry and various governements for harmonizing automotive standards among member countries.

For more information, visit the APEC website at APEC.