Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 154, Number 35: Regulations Amending the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations

August 29, 2020

Statutory authority

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Sponsoring department

Department of the Environment

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues

The Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations (the Regulations) are part of Canada’s suite of fuels regulations. The Regulations limit the sulphur content of gasoline that is produced in or imported into Canada. Sulphur in gasoline impairs the performance of catalytic converters, the primary control devices in vehicles that reduce exhaust emissions of air pollutants. The Regulations limit the sulphur content of gasoline, leading to reductions in air pollutant emissions from vehicles and engines, which contributes to improvements in air quality and health outcomes.

A temporary sulphur compliance unit (SCU) trading system was established under the Regulations in 2015. This trading system was intended to provide gasoline refiners with compliance flexibility during the transition to lower sulphur concentrations in gasoline while they made capital investments and technological improvements to comply with the mandatory sulphur limits for 2020 and beyond. This trading system ended with the 2019 compliance period.

In the fall of 2018, the Canadian Fuels Association (CFA) expressed concern that, without an SCU trading system under the Regulations, there may be cases in the future in which a Canadian refiner would have limited means to comply with the requirements for lower sulphur gasoline while addressing unforeseen operational challenges, such as unanticipated failure of desulfurization equipment. footnote 1 In addition, the CFA indicated in July 2020 that recent developments and response needs surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have resulted in delays for its members in completing upgrades that are necessary to comply with the regulated limits for sulphur in gasoline for 2020 and beyond.

The transition to lower sulphur gasoline in Canada was established through amendments made to the Regulations in 2015. Gasoline refiners and importers (primary suppliers) could still be making capital investments and operational improvements to comply with regulatory limits for sulphur in gasoline by the end of 2020. In the absence of amendments to the Regulations, primary suppliers of gasoline would not be able to make use of any SCUs accumulated under the expired temporary trading system for 2020 and beyond. However, these SCUs are a potential compliance flexibility that could help refiners while they complete necessary upgrades, if they have not already done so, in order to meet regulatory requirements for lower sulphur gasoline, especially in the context of unforeseen circumstances that cannot be fully managed with existing compliance mechanisms.

Background

The Department of the Environment (the Department) administers a suite of fuels regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to address fuel quality and emissions of pollutants from the combustion of fuels. These regulations are designed to protect the environment and health of Canadians from the effects of air pollution through an integrated approach that deals with both fuel quality and vehicle and engine emissions. Fuels containing high sulphur levels notably contribute to air pollution and lead to increased emissions of sulphur dioxide and sulphate particles from vehicles and engines. In particular, fuels with high sulphur levels interfere with the performance of vehicle pollution control systems.

Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations

On June 23, 1999, the Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, mandating gasoline refiners and importers in Canada to limit the sulphur content of gasoline to an annual average level of 30 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), or 30 parts per million (ppm), with a never-to-be-exceeded limit of 80 ppm, beginning in 2005. The Regulations also included a simpler default option of a 40 ppm batch limit, with minimal administrative requirements.

On July 29, 2015, the Regulations Amending the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations (the 2015 Amendments) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, requiring refiners and importers to provide gasoline with lower sulphur content to the Canadian market. The default batch flat limit for sulphur remained at 40 ppm (or 40 mg/kg) until the end of 2016, and was reduced to 14 ppm during the 2017–2019 period. For 2020 and beyond, the default batch flat limit is 12 ppm. The annual gasoline pool average compliance option, which primary suppliers can elect to use, remained at 30 ppm until the end of 2016, and was then reduced to 10 ppm for 2017 and beyond. The 2015 Amendments retained the never-to-be-exceeded batch limit of 80 ppm sulphur concentration in gasoline, applicable to any batch of gasoline produced or imported using the annual pool average compliance option, and applicable to all gasoline sales.

The 2015 Amendments included compliance flexibilities to help primary suppliers transition to the requirements for lower sulphur gasoline. One of these flexibilities was a temporary SCU trading system, for the years 2012 to 2019, available to primary suppliers electing to participate in the annual pool average compliance option. For these years, primary suppliers could generate volume-based SCUs from gasoline produced or imported for which the annual average sulphur concentration was under 30 ppm during the years 2012 to 2016, and under 10 ppm during the years 2017 to 2019. SCUs were allowed to be applied towards meeting regulatory compliance with the 10 ppm standard during the 2017–2019 period, and could be traded once between companies and multiple times within a company.

Compliance with sulphur in gasoline limits

The estimated volume-weighted average sulphur concentration in gasoline produced in or imported into Canada decreased from 20.5 ppm in 2012 to 16.5 ppm in 2019. In 2012, 2 out of 14 Canadian refiners were at or below the 10 ppm sulphur standard, which took effect in 2017. By the end of 2019, there were 6 (out of 14) refiners at or below the 10 ppm standard; 5 refiners had sulphur content higher than 10 ppm, but below 20 ppm; and 3 had sulphur content closer to 30 ppm.

The temporary SCU trading system enabled primary gasoline suppliers to over comply with the 30 ppm sulphur in gasoline standard from 2012 to 2016, generating surpluses of tradeable SCUs that could be transferred to future compliance periods. These surpluses of SCUs have been used by primary gasoline suppliers to comply with the 10 ppm sulphur standard during the 2017–2019 period (at an average rate of about 17% of the total SCUs available each year).

Subject to their choice of compliance option under the Regulations, primary suppliers may utilize other regulatory flexibilities available to them, including an annual pool average compliance option, a never-to-be-exceeded sulphur limit of 80 ppm applicable to any batch of gasoline, the ability to further refine or blend batches of gasoline or add low-sulphur oxygenates, and the possibility to export higher sulphur gasoline from Canada. These flexibilities, however, do not provide the same level of relief as an SCU trading system in addressing unforeseen operational challenges, including failure of critical equipment that removes naturally occurring sulphur from gasoline, which can happen with unpredictable timing or frequency.

Objective

The objective of the proposed Regulations Amending the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations (the proposed Amendments) is to provide primary gasoline suppliers in Canada (i.e. regulated parties) with additional compliance flexibility while they continue to transition to lower sulphur gasoline.

Description

The proposed Amendments would re-enact the temporary SCU trading system under the Regulations for the years 2020 to 2025. This temporary trading system would be available to regulated parties electing to participate in the annual pool average compliance option under the Regulations.

The proposed Amendments would enable regulated parties to transfer into the re-enacted temporary trading system the surplus balances of SCUs that they generated or received in trade in the expired trading system and owned as of March 31, 2020. The proposed Amendments would also provide regulated parties with the option to generate, trade or bank SCUs within the temporary trading system for use during the 2020–2025 period.

Regulatory development

Consultation

Regulated parties consist of gasoline refiners and importers in Canada. The CFA represents companies that process crude oil into essential products, such as transportation fuels, and deliver these products to market. The CFA thus represents gasoline refiners in Canada. The Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (CIPMA) represents independent Canadian fuel marketers. CIPMA thus represents gasoline importers in Canada that do not refine the gasoline they deliver to market.

In the fall of 2018, the CFA and association members expressed concern that there may be cases in the future in which a Canadian refiner experiencing an unplanned “gasoline desulphurization equipment failure” would have limited means to comply with the annual average sulphur limit of 10 ppm under the annual pool average compliance option in the Regulations. Consequently, the CFA and association members requested a transition from the temporary SCU trading system to a permanent trading system. The Department held consultations related to the possible establishment of a permanent trading system under the Regulations in the summer of 2019 with the CFA and association members.

In March 2020, primary suppliers advised the Department of an oversupply of motor gasoline in the Canadian market resulting from a sudden fall in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, as part of discussions with the Department, the CFA indicated

The proposed Amendments will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a 60-day comment period, in accordance with section 332 of CEPA. The Department plans to hold further consultations with stakeholders in 2021 and 2022 concerning potential future amendments to the Regulations to establish a permanent SCU trading system for 2026 and beyond.

Modern treaty obligations and Indigenous engagement and consultation

This regulatory proposal is not anticipated to impact Indigenous peoples, or Canada’s modern treaty obligations. As a result, specific Indigenous engagement and consultation were not undertaken. The Department will inform Indigenous groups of the publication of the proposed Amendments in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Instrument choice

Without the ability to exchange and use SCUs generated within the expired temporary trading system, it is projected that some gasoline refiners in Canada could have difficulty complying with the standards for lower sulphur gasoline under the Regulations for 2020 and beyond. In addition, given current levels of uncertainty and economic conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be difficult for some refiners to complete capital investments or technological improvements in the short term to directly lower concentrations of sulphur in gasoline. For these reasons, maintaining the status quo (i.e. not re-establishing the expired temporary SCU trading system) was not pursued as an option.

The Department will further assess and consult on the establishment of a permanent SCU trading system under the Regulations for 2026 and beyond. One of the impacts of such a system that would need to be examined relates to the fact that the opportunity for trading SCUs within companies could provide a competitive advantage to companies operating multiple refineries relative to companies operating a single refinery. Further, under a permanent trading system, situations of unbalanced gasoline quality across regions of the geographically dispersed Canadian market could arise if a primary supplier decided to use SCUs instead of producing or importing cleaner, lower sulphur gasoline. For these reasons, the creation of a permanent trading system is not being proposed at this time.

In the Department’s view, re-enacting the temporary trading system by means of the proposed Amendments for the years 2020 to 2025 is the recommended approach. This approach would allow primary gasoline suppliers to use SCUs generated under the expired trading system for the years 2020 to 2025. This extension of the temporary trading system would provide regulated parties with additional time to complete investments and improvements to meet the standards for lower sulphur gasoline under the Regulations. The re-enactment of the temporary trading system for the years 2020 to 2025 would also allow sufficient time for the Department to conduct an analysis of the expected impacts of a permanent SCU trading system under the Regulations for 2026 and beyond.

Lastly, section 147 of CEPA allows the Minister of the Environment to grant waivers to the requirements of the Regulations if there is a real or anticipated shortage in fuel supply during a declared provincial or federal emergency. Such waivers are intended to be temporary and cannot be used for other reasons, so they are not a possible option in this case.

Regulatory analysis

Benefits and costs

Impacts related to compliance with limits for sulphur in gasoline

The temporary SCU trading system was included as part of the 2015 Amendments to provide more compliance flexibility during the transition to lower sulphur gasoline in Canada leading to 2020. During this transition, it was anticipated that Canadian refining companies would use the SCUs that they acquired through trade within the temporary system while making necessary investments and improvements in alignment with their periodic upgrade and maintenance schedules. Further, it was projected that all Canadian refiners would be producing gasoline with a sulphur concentration at or below the 10 ppm limit by 2020.

Primary gasoline suppliers may continue to use the other compliance flexibilities under the Regulations. Nonetheless, operational and technical constraints can limit a primary supplier’s ability to reprocess and blend gasoline with a high sulphur concentration to reduce sulphur content. The option of using the re-enacted temporary trading system under the proposed Amendments could provide primary gasoline suppliers with a relatively high level of relief, especially in the context of future (unknown) economic impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020 to 2025, gasoline refiners and importers are projected to make use of their surplus balances of SCUs transferred from the expired temporary trading system into the re-enacted temporary system. This flexibility would provide primary suppliers with additional time to fully comply, for 2026 and beyond, with the 10 ppm limit through capital investments and technological improvements, which are ongoing.

The temporary trading system would also facilitate compliance with the mandatory sulphur limit by lowering operational risks faced by regulated parties. Specifically, gasoline refiners would face lower operational risks in the event of unplanned equipment failure affecting desulphurization processes. While these types of interruptions are infrequent in general, they may happen with unpredictable timing or frequency, and they may result in extended operational delays for assessment, equipment replacement, repair or installation, and restart activities.

Reducing the level of sulphur in gasoline has been, and continues to be, an integral and important component of the Department’s cleaner vehicles, engines and fuels program. The proposed Amendments would not make any changes to current sulphur limits; this includes the never-to-be-exceeded limit of 80 ppm. Since this maximum sulphur limit is not changing, actual sulphur concentrations in gasoline sold in Canada during the 2020–2025 period are not anticipated to reach levels that would impair the effective operation of advanced technologies designed to control emissions from vehicles and engines.

Impacts related to air pollutant emissions and impacts on air quality

The impact analysis of the 2015 Amendments assumed a regulatory scenario in which the actual average sulphur concentration in gasoline would be 10 ppm across Canada as of 2020. Based on the 2019 annual reports submitted by regulated parties, and in the absence of further investments or improvements, the actual average sulphur concentration in gasoline in the Canadian market would be above 10 ppm during the 2020–2025 period. With the re-enacted trading system in place, ongoing technological improvements are expected, but there is a risk that the actual average sulphur concentration in gasoline in the Canadian market would not reach the 10 ppm threshold during the 2020–2025 period, as primary suppliers would be allowed to use SCUs from the expired trading system for compliance purposes. The implementation of the proposed Amendments could thus push back the first year in which primary suppliers would comply with the 10 ppm sulphur limit without the use of SCUs from 2020 to 2026.

In accordance with subsection 140(2) of CEPA, the Regulations, once modified by the proposed Amendments, would continue to make a significant contribution to the reduction in air pollution in Canada resulting from sulphur in gasoline and its effect on the performance of emissions control equipment (in this case, catalytic converters). Any short-term changes in air quality benefits resulting from the re-enactment of the temporary trading system are expected to fall within the possible range of air quality benefits associated with an actual average sulphur concentration in gasoline of 10 ppm. Some regional increases in sulphur concentrations in gasoline and air pollutant emissions from vehicles and engines could occur in the regulatory scenario, when compared to a baseline (counterfactual) scenario in which there is no SCU trading system and each regulated party supplies the Canadian market with gasoline that has an actual average sulphur concentration of 10 ppm. Any increases in emissions and their subsequent impacts on air quality would be temporary, from 2020 to 2025. They are also expected to be small given that sulphur concentrations in gasoline are relatively low nationwide and are projected to continue to decrease during this period.

It is worth noting that, in its July 2020 Monetary Policy Report, the Bank of Canada forecasts a sharp rebound in economic activity in the reopening phase of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a more prolonged recuperation phase over the medium term in a slow return to pre-pandemic levels of economic activity in Canada. footnote 2 If there is less economic activity during this recovery period in general, air pollutant emissions from vehicles and engines could be relatively lower in comparison with emissions from these sources under a pre-pandemic scenario. Possible decreases in air pollutant emissions from vehicles and engines would help offset any increases in emissions and their impacts on air quality due to actual average sulphur concentrations in gasoline being above 10 ppm between 2020 and 2025.

Business administrative and government impacts

Nearly all primary suppliers have already elected to comply with the annual gasoline pool average option. The proposed Amendments would lead to minor administrative costs for regulated parties electing to participate in the re-enacted temporary trading system. These administrative costs would be related to refamiliarization with the re-enacted administrative provisions concerning the temporary SCU trading system; completing a one-time application to participate in this system; and ongoing record-keeping, reporting and auditing requirements in connection with SCU transactions. Monetized estimates of the administrative costs attributable to the proposed Amendments are presented in the “One-for-one rule” section below.

The re-enactment of the temporary SCU trading system is not anticipated to lead to any incremental costs for the federal government. To implement and administer the temporary trading system, the Department would employ the existing processes used to track compliance and trading activity under the Regulations.

Small business lens

The small business lens would not apply to the proposed Amendments, as they would have impacts on regulated parties consisting of medium and large businesses only. There are currently no small business producers or importers of gasoline that report under the Regulations, given that the 2015 Amendments removed all reporting requirements for producers or importers of less than 400 cubic metres (m3), or 400 000 litres (l), of gasoline annually.

One-for-one rule

The one-for-one rule applies as this regulatory proposal would result in an incremental increase in administrative burden on business. The proposal amends an existing regulation, which results in no net increase or decrease in regulatory titles.

For the years 2020 to 2025, the proposed Amendments would lead to some administrative burden costs related to the refamiliarization with re-enacted administrative obligations, completing applications, and ongoing record-keeping, reporting and auditing requirements. Gasoline refiners and importers in Canada electing to participate in the re-enacted temporary SCU trading system under the Regulations would incur these costs. This system would expire at the end of 2025, after which there would be no incremental administrative costs for businesses attributable to the proposed Amendments.

For the purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that regulated parties would only elect the annual pool average compliance option and participation in the temporary trading system if they expect to realize net cost savings relative to the anticipated costs of the default batch flat limit option. It is further assumed that all gasoline refiners and importers electing to comply with the annual pool average option choose to participate in the temporary trading system. Overall, the new administrative burden for the Canadian gasoline producing and importing sector is estimated at approximately $4,000 in annualized average administrative costs. footnote 3 Net administrative impacts per business for 23 regulated parties (14 refiners and 9 importers) are anticipated to be on average 7 hours per year, which corresponds to approximately $180 in annualized average costs per business when allocated over a 10-year analytical period to assess administrative cost impacts (2020–2029). footnote 4

Regulatory cooperation and alignment

The Regulations are part of the Government of Canada’s Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative, which includes activities to reduce transboundary air pollution, as agreed to under the Canada–United States Air Quality Agreement. Under the Ozone Annex to this agreement, Canada and the United States have agreed to reduce emissions of ozone precursors, which contribute to the formation of smog, including emissions from the operation of vehicles and engines and the combustion of fuel. footnote 5

The same annual average limit of 10 ppm for sulphur content in gasoline is part of the U.S. Tier 3 fuel standards. The U.S. system, however, includes a permanent nationwide system that allows refiners and importers to average, bank and trade credits on an ongoing basis. The re-enactment of the temporary SCU trading system would maintain alignment of the Regulations with the U.S. Tier 3 fuel regulations, which is consistent with the objectives of the Canada—United States Regulatory Cooperation Council.

Strategic environmental assessment

The Regulations and the proposed Amendments fall under the Government of Canada’s Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative. A public statement on the strategic environmental assessment of the Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative was published in 2017 and concluded that regulatory policies under this initiative are expected to reduce outdoor air pollution and its negative impacts on air quality and communities in Canada. footnote 6 These anticipated outcomes are in line with the goal in Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) of safe and healthy communities, as well as with the FSDS goal of effective action on climate change when sources emitting both greenhouse gases and air pollutants are targeted. footnote 7

Gender-based analysis plus

No gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) impacts have been identified for this proposal.

Implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards

The proposed Amendments would come into force on the day on which they are registered. Subject to Governor in Council approval, it is the Department’s intent to have the proposed Amendments come into force by the end of 2020, such that participants in the temporary trading system would have sufficient notice to be able to exchange and use SCUs for compliance purposes and to complete their 2020 annual reports, which are due by April 30, 2021.

Information on the proposed Amendments would be provided on the Department’s website and updated periodically, as needed. footnote 8 Frequently asked questions with responses would be posted and updated on this website prior to the coming into force of the proposed Amendments.

The compliance promotion approach for the proposed Amendments would be similar to the approach taken for the Regulations, which includes maintaining a presence on the Department’s website and responding to inquiries from stakeholders. The Department would conduct regular compliance promotion activities, and the national fuels program is staffed with personnel who can respond to inquiries regarding the proposed Amendments.

As the proposed Amendments are made under CEPA, implementation and enforcement would be undertaken by the Department in accordance with the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for CEPA. footnote 9 Enforcement officers would apply this policy when verifying compliance with the regulatory requirements.

Contacts

Magda Little
Director
Oil, Gas and Alternative Energy Division
Energy and Transportation Directorate
Environmental Protection Branch
Department of the Environment
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, 11th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Email: ec.carburants-fuels.ec@canada.ca

Matthew Watkinson
Director
Regulatory Analysis and Valuation Division
Economic Analysis Directorate
Strategic Policy Branch
Department of the Environment
200 Sacré-Coeur Boulevard, 10th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Email: ec.darv-ravd.ec@canada.ca

PROPOSED REGULATORY TEXT

Notice is given, pursuant to subsection 332(1) footnote a of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 footnote b, that the Governor in Council, pursuant to sections 140 footnote c, 326 and 330 footnote d of that Act, proposes to make the annexed Regulations Amending the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations.

Any person may, within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, file with the Minister of the Environment comments with respect to the proposed Regulations or a notice of objection requesting that a board of review be established under section 333 of that Act and stating the reasons for the objection. All comments and notices must cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, and the date of publication of this notice, and be sent to Magda Little, Director, Oil, Gas, and Alternative Energy Division, Department of the Environment, 351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3 (email: ec.carburants-fuels.ec@canada.ca).

A person who provides information to the Minister of the Environment may submit with the information a request for confidentiality under section 313 of that Act.

Ottawa, August 21, 2020

Julie Adair
Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council

Regulations Amending the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations

1 The definition trading system in subsection 1(1) of the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations footnote 10 is replaced by the following:

2 (1) Paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(2) Subsection 2(2) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(2) For the purpose of section 139 of the Act and subject to subsection (2.1), the pool average of a pool in respect of which a primary supplier has made an election under section 9 shall not exceed 10 mg/kg.

3 (1) Paragraph 3(1)(b) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(2) Paragraphs 3(2)(a) and (b) of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

4 (1) Subsection 9(1) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

9 (1) A primary supplier may, in respect of a pool, elect to calculate the concentration of sulphur in gasoline that is in the pool on the basis of a pool average by submitting to the Minister a notice of the election within the period specified in subsection (2.1) or (2.2).

(2) Section 9 of the Regulations is amended by adding the following after subsection (2.1):

(2.2) Despite subsection (2.1), if the year in respect of which the calculation will be made on the basis of a pool average is the year 2020, the notice shall be submitted to the Minister no later than 30 days after the day on which this subsection comes into force.

(3) Subsection 9(5) of the Regulations is repealed.

5 Section 13 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

13 (1) A primary supplier who makes an election under section 9 may, in respect of the pool to which that election applies, elect to participate in the temporary sulphur compliance unit trading system by submitting to the Minister a notice of the election to participate in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) The notice shall identify the pool to which the election applies and be submitted to the Minister

6 (1) Subsections 14(1) to (3) of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

14 (1) A primary supplier who is participating in the trading system may, in respect of the pool to which the election applies, create a number of sulphur compliance units, for a year, that is equal to the amount determined in accordance with the following formula:

(A − B) × C

where

(2) If a primary supplier makes an election under subsection 13(1) in respect of a pool for which they made an election under subsections 13(1) or (3) as it read immediately before the day on which this subsection comes into force, the primary supplier may, in respect of that pool, create for the year 2020 a number of sulphur compliance units that is less than or equal to the balance of the sulphur compliance units reported for that pool for the year 2019 under paragraph 5(e) of Schedule 2.

(2) Subsection 14(5) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(5) Une unité de conformité de soufre est créée lorsque le fournisseur principal en consigne la création dans le livre des unités de conformité de soufre qu’il tient en application de l’article 18. Il doit y consigner la création des unités pour une année donnée au plus tard le 15 février de l’année suivante.

7 (1) Subsection 15(1) of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

15 (1) A primary supplier who is participating in the trading system may use a sulphur compliance unit that they hold, in respect of a pool for which an election is made under section 13, to adjust the pool average of that pool for any of the years 2020 to 2025.

(2) Subsection 15(3) of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

(3) Une unité de conformité de soufre est utilisée lorsque le fournisseur principal en consigne l’utilisation dans le livre des unités de conformité de soufre qu’il tient en application de l’article 18. Il doit y consigner l’utilisation des unités de conformité de soufre pour une année donnée au plus tard le 31 mars de l’année suivante.

8 The heading before section 18 of the French version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

Livre des unités de conformité de soufre

9 The portion of section 18 of the French version of the Regulations before paragraph (b) is replaced by the following:

18 Le fournisseur principal qui participe au système d’échange tient un livre des unités de conformité de soufre à l’égard de chaque ensemble des lots visé par le choix exercé conformément à l’article 13 dans lequel il consigne les renseignements suivants :

10 The heading before section 19 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

Records

11 The portion of section 19 of the Regulations before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

19 A primary supplier who is participating in the trading system shall, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, maintain a record that contains the following information for each pool in respect of which they make an election under section 13:

12 Sections 20 and 21 of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

20 A primary supplier who is participating in the trading system shall maintain a record that contains a copy of all supporting documents for the books and records referred to in sections 18 and 19.

Maintaining Books and Records

21 The primary supplier shall maintain the books and records referred to in sections 18 to 20 in Canada until December 31, 2031.

13 The heading of Part 3 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

Reports and Notices

14 Section 23 of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

23 (1) A report or notice that is required to be submitted to the Minister under these Regulations shall be submitted electronically in the form and format specified by the Minister and bear the electronic signature of an authorized official.

(2) If the Minister has not specified an electronic form and format or if it is impractical to submit the report or notice electronically in accordance with subsection (1) because of circumstances beyond the control of the person sending the report, they shall submit it on paper, signed by an authorized official and in the form and format, if any, specified by the Minister. However, if no form and format have been specified, the report or notice may be in any form and format.

15 Subsections 25(1) and (2) of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

25 (1) For each year in which a primary supplier participates in the trading system, they shall, for each pool in respect of which they make an election under section 13, submit to the Minister a report, no later than April 30 of the year after the year for which the report is submitted, that contains the information referred to in Schedule 2.

16 Section 3 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations is repealed.

17 The portion of section 4 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

4 The following information regarding the gasoline, other than gasoline produced for export or that was in transit through Canada, that was produced or imported by the primary supplier in that year and identified under section 5 of these Regulations as low-sulphur gasoline, with separate entries for gasoline with a sulphur concentration of 10 mg/kg or less and gasoline with a sulphur concentration of more than 10 mg/kg:

18 Section 5 of Schedule 2 to the Regulations is amended by adding the following after paragraph (a):

Transitional Provision

19 Section 21 of the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations as it read immediately before the day on which these Regulations come into force continues to apply to the maintenance of records referred to in sections 18 to 20 as they read immediately before the day on which these Regulations come into force.

Coming into Force

20 These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.