Gasoline regulations: 1998 amendments affecting leaded gasoline for competition vehicles

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Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)

Information bulletin: IBGR98001.4

Contact

Edward Dowdall, Use Patterns and Controls Implementation Section
Commercial Chemicals Evaluation Branch
Tel. 819-953-9476
Fax. 819-994-0007

This bulletin provides clarification of the requirements specified in sections 3 and 11 of the Gasoline Regulations, made on April 26, 1990, as amended, including the last amendment published on April 15, 1998 in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

The Gasoline Regulations permit the production, importation and sales of leaded gasoline for use in competition vehicles until December 31, 2002.

Under the regulations, a competition vehicle is defined as a vehicle or boat that is used exclusively for competition and does not include a vehicle that is used on a highway or a vehicle or boat that is used for recreational purposes. The regulations no longer require certification from engine builders or race-sanctioning bodies verifying engine octane requirements and compression ratios.

The regulations also include a definition of "import". Under the regulations, "import" means to bring gasoline into Canada. However, if the gasoline is transported into Canada in the fuel tank of a conveyance or a competition vehicle for use in the conveyance's or the competition vehicle's engine, it is not considered as being imported. Gasoline brought into Canada under any other circumstance is considered as an import.

Under the 1998 amendments, sellers, as well as producers and importers of leaded gasoline for competition vehicles, are now required to keep records detailing the sales, imports or production of the leaded gasoline. Furthermore, these persons must submit their records annually to the Minister of the Environment. This data will be used to monitor leaded gasoline use in competition vehicles.

Anyone who buys leaded gasoline for use in their competition vehicle, but is not engaged in the production, importation or sale of leaded gasoline for competition vehicles, is exempt from the record keeping and reporting requirements.

The regulations require that the records must be retained in Canada for a period of five years beginning on the date the record is made. Example templates for company identification and record keeping are attached to this bulletin.

Under the regulations, the dated records that are kept must show:

• the brand name of the gasoline;
• the octane rating and the method used for determining the octane rating of the gasoline;
• the average yearly lead concentration in milligrams per litre (mg/L) of the gasoline for each brand name;
• if the gasoline was sold for resale or distribution, the name and address of the re-seller or distributor;
• if the gasoline was sold at a track or event location, the name and address of the track or event location where the gasoline was used; and,
• quantities of leaded gasoline produced, imported, sold or offered for sale must also be recorded.

These records must be submitted annually to the Minister of the Environment on or before March 31 of the year following the year the activity occurred. The information may be faxed or mailed to:

Minister of the Environment
Attn.: Head, Use Patterns and Controls Implementation Section
Commercial Chemicals Evaluation Branch
Environment Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard 12th floor
Hull QC  K1A 0H3
Facsimile: 819-994-0007

Copies of the "Office Consolidation" of the Gasoline Regulations and their amendments as well as information pertaining to other fuels regulations are available upon request. For further information please contact your nearest Environment Canada regional office or the contact listed at the top of this bulletin.

Should any inconsistencies between this Bulletin, CEPA and the Gasoline Regulations be found, CEPA and the regulations will prevail.