(NAFB) – In a letter to the National Farmers Union, the Environmental Protection Agency affirmed that the Clean Air Act cannot be used as a basis to restrict independent repair of farm equipment.

In their opposition to Right to Repair legislation, equipment manufacturers and dealers have invoked EPA regulations and the Clean Air Act – specifically related to tampering with emissions control systems – as justification for their need to restrict repair. NFU President Rob Larew says, “EPA confirmed what farmers have known all along – equipment manufacturers have been using bad faith justifications to restrict independent repair.”

EPA Administrator Michael Regan stated that “Like NFU and its members, EPA believes barriers to the proper repair and maintenance of nonroad equipment is harmful to the environment.” NFU strongly supports a federal legislative solution that guarantees farmers and independent mechanics the Right to Repair farm equipment on fair and reasonable terms and costs.