EPA Certificate for Importers: What to Verify

Any new small non-road engine sold in the United States needs an EPA Certificate of Conformity, issued under the Clean Air Act. It covers the engine rather than the machine built around it. For anyone importing mowers, chippers, generators or similar gasoline equipment, the certificate number on the engine label is what proves the unit can legally enter and be sold there.

We build mowers in China and ship them to American buyers, so this paperwork crosses our desk every week. Below is what we ask an engine supplier for, and why a container sometimes sits at the port over a document rather than a freight problem.

Who needs the EPA certificate

The requirement lands on three sets of people, and usually at different moments in the deal.

US importers bringing in new gasoline-engine equipment for resale. The certificate has to accompany the engine family.
Distributors and dealers buying from an overseas supplier, who want proof of compliance before committing to a container.
OEM and ODM buyers who rebrand machines. The engine certificate stays valid, because it covers the engine family and not the finished machine brand.

If the engine is not covered by a current certificate, the machine cannot legally be sold for use in the US. Customs and EPA work from the certificate number on the engine label, so that number carries the file.

Read the certificate like a buyer

Four fields on the certificate do the real work, and an importer should check all four.

Field	What it tells you
Certificate holder	Usually the engine manufacturer (e.g. LONCIN General Power Equipment)
Engine family	The compliance family code (e.g. TCGPS.2241PC)
Model year	Which production year the certificate covers
Effective/expiry dates	The window in which engines may be introduced into US commerce

The TorqMax mower engines carry certificate TCGPS.2241PC-055, matching the 224cc LONCIN engines fitted to our 550mm models. You can see one of those machines here: SDL224-55A remote-controlled lawn mower. The certificate is published for download on the About and OEM/ODM pages, so a partner can verify it before ordering rather than after.

Coverage passes down the machine

The certificate covers the engine family, never the finished machine brand, and that is what makes OEM and ODM workable. A distributor can rebrand the complete machine and still ship it with documented engine compliance, because the obligation follows the engine rather than the label on the chassis.

It is also why we will not ship against a certificate for a different engine family. The paperwork has to match the engine plate on every unit in the container. If you buy in volume, pull a few machines out at the warehouse and read the plates.

What customs and EPA check

During import, the machine is reviewed against the declared engine family. The practical checks are whether the engine label is present and legible, whether the family code on that label matches the certificate, and whether the certificate is current for the model year being imported.

Missing labels and family mismatches are the classic reasons a container gets held. Both are avoidable. Keep the certificate PDF with the shipment file and have the engine family printed on your own documentation as well, so the number your broker sends ahead agrees with the plate on the machine. The official framework is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and it is worth reading there before your first shipment.

Ask your supplier for the certificate before the PO

Request the certificate PDF with your quotation. Waiting until the machine is built is how buyers end up chasing a supplier who suddenly cannot find the document.

Verify three things before you commit. The engine family on the certificate has to match the engine plate fitted to the machine. The certificate holder has to be the engine manufacturer rather than a reseller. The expiry has to cover your delivery window, not just the day you place the order.

A supplier who publishes the certificate publicly, as TorqMax does, has nothing to hide at customs. If a supplier hesitates, or offers a “compliance letter” with a reference number instead of a real EPA certificate number, get the actual document. A compliance statement is not the same paper as a certificate of conformity, and the difference shows up the moment a broker asks to see it.

Common mistakes importers make

Accepting a certificate for a similar but different engine family.
Assuming the finished-machine brand needs its own certificate (it does not, the engine family is what matters).
Forgetting to confirm the certificate is current for the model year in the container.
Relying on a dealer “assurance” instead of the certificate PDF itself.

Each of these surfaces at the port rather than at the factory, which is why it costs money to fix late and almost nothing to catch early.

Frequently asked questions

Does every gasoline machine need an EPA certificate?

Every new small non-road engine sold in the US needs one, and that covers the mowers, chippers and generators we ship. The rule follows the engine, so a machine with a covered engine is fine even when the badge on the chassis is new. Without a current certificate, the machine cannot legally be offered for sale there.

Can I rebrand an EPA-certified machine?

Yes, and that is how our OEM and ODM orders work. The certificate covers the engine family, so changing the badge on the chassis leaves the engine compliance intact. What you cannot change is the engine itself. If the family code on the production plate differs from the code on the certificate, the shipment is no longer clean.

How do I verify a supplier’s EPA certificate?

Ask for the certificate PDF, then check it against the machine you are buying. The family code on the certificate has to match the engine label, the holder should be the engine manufacturer rather than a reseller, and the dates have to cover your shipment window. When any of the three does not line up, keep asking.

Are TorqMax engines EPA-certified?

Yes. The LONCIN engines used across our mower range carry the TCGPS.2241PC family certificate, and you can download it from the About page or the OEM/ODM page without asking us first. If you want the certificate attached to a quotation for a specific model, we will send it with the price.

What happens if my shipment has no certificate?

The unit may be held at import or barred from US sale. The certificate is a legal gate rather than a formality, which means a missing or mismatched document is one of the few import problems that paying more freight cannot solve. Get the PDF before the container leaves.

Importing EPA-certified equipment?

Ask us for the current certificate with your quote, and we reply within 12 hours (Mon-Sat, GMT+8). Send an inquiry through our contact page or message WhatsApp +86 131 3833 7334.

EPA Certificate of Conformity: What Importers Should Know About Small Engine Compliance