Canada
Canada
Motor Vehicle National Type Approval
Transport Canada (TC) is mainly responsible for road transportation and rail transportation in Canada. Vehicles and parts of the specified categories must be approved by TC when exported to Canada and comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act and safety regulations. The safety regulations are based on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). The Minister of Transportation is responsible for the management and enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Safety Law and designates inspectors to be responsible for certification-related matters.
The Motor Vehicle Safety Directorate is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The Motor Vehicle Regulations Enforcement Branch conducts post-market surveillance and oversight of the regulated community through programs of compliance inspection, testing, corporate audits, and the investigation of alleged safety-related defects and recall monitoring.
The Attorney General of Canada is responsible for all litigation relating to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) fulfills the responsibilities of the Attorney General of Canada in the discharge of his/her criminal law mandate by prosecuting criminal offenses under federal jurisdiction. Transport Canada enforcement officials present information and make recommendations regarding prosecutions to the PPSC, which decides whether to proceed with a prosecution.
The Federal Court renders the final decision on the outcome of a prosecution for violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, including what penalty to impose. The Federal Court would also review the Minister’s decision to issue an Order.
ATIC’s homologation experts have conducted systematic research on Canadian motor vehicle regulations and certification system. ATIC, with profession and efficiency, provides full-lifecycle compliance services and certification service for vehicle/component manufacturers.
General Steps
Documents Preparation
ATIC experts evaluate products and assist manufacturers in developing test plans
Testing
ATIC experts assist manufacturers develops test plans and schedules tests
Laboratory issues test reports
Laboratory issues test reports
Record Keeping
Keep test records in paper or electronic form for at least 5 years
Label
Compliance labels or safety markings are affixed in accordance with the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act after passing the test
Canadian Motor Vehicle Type Approval
Self-Certification：Vehicles can be registered and sold based on the manufacturer's self-certification declaration. The regulator can test vehicles entering the market to check compliance.
Types of vehicles required to be regulated by the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS)
- Passenger Car: means a vehicle having a designated seating capacity of 10 or less, but does not include an all- terrain vehicle, competition vehicle, low-speed vehicle, multi-purpose passenger vehicle, antique reproduction vehicle, motorcycle, truck, trailer or three-wheeled vehicle
- Bus: means a vehicle having a designated seating capacity of more than 10, but does not include a trailer
- Multi-purpose Passenger Vehicle: means a vehicle having a designated seating capacity of 10 or less that is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation, but does not include an air cushion vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, low-speed vehicle, passenger car, three-wheeled vehicle or truck
- Truck
- Trailer
- Trailer Converter Dolly
- Motorcycle: Enclosed Motorcycle , Open Motorcycle , Limited-speed Motorcycle , Restricted-use Motorcycle
- Snowmobile
- Low-speed Vehicle
- Three-wheeled Vehicle
Motor vehicle equipment regulated by the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA)
- Tires
- Equipment for use in the restraint of children and disabled persons
- Records in paper or electronic form must be kept for at least 5 years after the vehicle is manufactured or imported, and must ensure that the test certification records ensure that the enforcement auditor can determine whether the vehicle/equipment complies with all applicable standards and facilitate the investigation and analysis of safety defects.
- Feedback of records from manufacturers and importers should not take longer than 30 working days after receipt of a request for investigation, or 45 working days for records requiring translation.
Compliance Label: For all completed vehicles, a compliance label (also known as a SoC Label) must be attached to the vehicle to prove compliance with the relevant regulations and standards
The Content of the Compliance Label Includes
- Name of manufacturer
- Year and month of vehicle production
- NSM and authorisation number
- Vehicle VIN
- For passenger cars/MPVs/low-speed vehicles/tricycles/trucks/buses/trailers/motorcycles: Gross vehicle weight - GVWR/PN-BV, axle weight rating per axle - GAWR/ PNBE
- Vehicle type: for passenger cars, code PC/VT
National Safety Marks (NSM) are used to indicate the compliance of a vehicle or equipment with the Act and attendant regulations and safety standards. The Minister of Transport authorizes their use and any company that intends to use a NSM must apply to the Minister to obtain this authorization.
Usage Scenarios
- New vehicles manufactured in Canada and shipped inter-provincially must include a National Safety Mark (NSM) drawing on or beside the compliance label.
- Imported vehicles may use a prescribed statement on the compliance label instead of a National Safety Mark.
- Tires manufactured in Canada and shipped inter-provincially do not require a compliance label but must have a National Safety Mark moulded into them.
- Imported tires must be accompanied by a written declaration from the manufacturer or its duly authorized representative that the tire conforms to the prescribed standards for a tire of that class at the time the tire was manufactured.
- Restraint systems and booster seats, whether imported or manufactured in Canada for inter-provincial shipment, must have a National Safety Mark and a product information label affixed to them.
| Import Method | Specific Requirements | |
| Pre-Clearance Program | The Appendix F program is available to Canadian commercial importers importing more than 2500 vehicles per year | Importers listed on Appendix F are not restricted to vehicles of a particular class and are able to import any vehicle regulated by the Act |
| The Appendix G program is available to Canadian commercial importers who import fewer than 2500 vehicles per year | Only those OEMs and vehicle classes that have qualified for pre-clearance may be imported via pre-clearance | |
| Case-by-Case Importation | A company who is not in the pre-clearance program, may still import regulated vehicles by demonstrating compliance on a case-by-case basis | |
| Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program | Vehicles Purchased at the Retail Level in the United States and Mexico | |
Law Enforcement
- Regulatory Enforcement Inspectors: Inspectors are designated by the Minister and carry a certificate of designation and a badge, which they must produce upon request. They have the most frequent and regular contact with entities regulated by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
- Defect Investigators: Certain inspectors specialize in the documentation of public complaints and in the administrative defect investigation of alleged safety-related defects.
Supervision Form
- Compliance Testing：inspection and testing of regulated vehicles, tires and equipment for use in the restraint of children and disabled persons.
- Compliance Audits：auditing companies, which includes reviewing certification documents, quality-control procedures, production capabilities and line operations, as well as examination of products.
- Defect Investigations and Recalls：documenting and analyzing public complaints alleging safety- related defects and reviewing companies’ Notice of Defect procedures and specific corrective measures (recalls).
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Automotive Safety Technical Regulations System
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard （CMVSS）
No. | Standards |
1 | CMVSS 101-Controls, Tell-tales, Indicators and Sources of Illumination |
2 | CMVSS 102-Transmission Control Functions |
3 | CMVSS 103-Windshield Defrosting and Defogging |
4 | CMVSS 104-Windshield Wiping and Washing System |
5 | CMVSS 105-Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems |
6 | CMVSS 106-Brake Hoses |
7 | CMVSS 108-Lighting Systems and Reflective Devices |
8 | CMVSS 110-Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles With a GVWR of 4 536 kg or Less |
9 | CMVSS 111-Mirrors and Rear Visibility Systems |
10 | CMVSS 113-Hood Latch System |
11 | CMVSS 114-Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention |
12 | CMVSS 115-Vehicle Identification Number |
13 | CMVSS 116-Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids |
14 | CMVSS 118-Power-Operated Window, Partition and Roof Panel Systems |
15 | CMVSS 120-Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles With a GVWR of More Than 4 536 kg |
16 | CMVSS 121-Air Brake Systems |
17 | CMVSS 122-Motorcycle Brake Systems |
18 | CMVSS 123-Motorcycle Controls and Displays |
19 | CMVSS 124-Accelerator Control Systems |
20 | CMVSS 126-Electronic Stability Control Systems for Light Vehicles |
21 | CMVSS 131-School Bus Pedestrian Safety Devices |
22 | CMVSS 135-Light Vehicle Brake Systems |
23 | CMVSS 136-Electronic Stability Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles |
24 | CMVSS 141-Minimum sound requirement for hybrid and electric vehicles |
25 | CMVSS 201-Occupant Protection |
26 | CMVSS 202-Head Restraints |
27 | CMVSS 203-Driver Impact Protection and Steering Control System |
28 | CMVSS 204-Steering Column Rearward Displacement |
29 | CMVSS 205-Glazing Materials |
30 | CMVSS 206-Door Locks and Door Retention Components |
31 | CMVSS 207-Anchorage of Seats |
32 | CMVSS 208-Occupant Protection in Frontal Impacts |
33 | CMVSS 209-Seat Belt Assemblies |
34 | CMVSS 210-Seat Belt Anchorages |
35 | CMVSS 210.1-User-ready Tether Anchorages for Restraint Systems and Booster Seats |
36 | CMVSS 210.2-Lower Universal Anchorage Systems for Restraint Systems and Booster Seats |
37 | CMVSS 212-Windshield Mounting |
38 | CMVSS 213.4-Built-in Restraint Systems and Built-in Booster Seats |
39 | CMVSS 214-Side Impact Protection |
40 | CMVSS 215-Bumpers |
41 | CMVSS 216-Roof Crush Resistance |
42 | CMVSS 217-Bus Window Retention, Release and Emergency Exits |
43 | CMVSS 219-Windshield Zone Intrusion |
44 | CMVSS 220-Rollover Protection |
45 | CMVSS 221-School Bus Body Joint Strength |
46 | CMVSS 222-School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection |
47 | CMVSS 223-Rear Impact Guards |
48 | CMVSS 226-Ejection Mitigation |
49 | CMVSS 301-Fuel System Integrity |
50 | CMVSS 301.1-LPG Fuel System Integrity |
51 | CMVSS 301.2-CNG Fuel System Integrity |
52 | CMVSS 301.3-Fuel System Integrity for Three-wheeled Vehicles and Motorcycles |
53 | CMVSS 302-Flammability of Interior Materials |
54 | CMVSS 305-Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection |
55 | CMVSS 401-Interior Trunk Release |
56 | CMVSS 500-Low-speed Vehicles |
57 | CMVSS 505-Vehicle Stability |
58 | CMVSS 901-Axles |
59 | CMVSS 903-C-dolly Specifications |
60 | CMVSS 904-C-dolly Hitch Requirements |
61 | CMVSS 905-Trailer Cargo Anchoring Devices |
62 | CMVSS 906-Snowmobile Trailers |
63 | CMVSS 1106-Noise Emissions |
64 | CMVSS 1201-Snowmobiles |
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