Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials are seeking tougher standards on paint point-of-sale transactions. Restrictions call for purchasers of refinish products to furnish certification prior to sales transactions. This concept began after the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments mandated air quality standards that led to restrictions on products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Eighty-nine percent of collision members anticipate the paint point-of-sale ruling will affect the industry and individual businesses, according to the Automotive Service Association's (ASA) 2005 "How's Your Business Survey?"

The survey shows half of the members polled believe it will impact both their business and the industry. Thirty-five percent of collision members believe the regulation will impact their business. Four percent cite that it will affect only the industry, and eleven percent feel point-of-sale will have no effect on either their facilities or the collision industry.

The EPA will assemble data and investigate ecological and financial impacts of new refinish regulations. The proposal for the new statute is expected in August 2007, finalized in 2009 and implemented in 2011.

Eighty-nine percent of ASA's mechanical members believe OSHA and EPA constraints affect their businesses and the industry. This is evident by 13 percent indicating it affects individual shops, 8 percent saying it affects the industry and 68 percent citing regulations affecting both shops and the mechanical repair industry. Eleven percent of ASA's mechanical members state government regulations have no effect on either their facilities or the mechanical repair industry.

Stat Corner is written by Karin White, ASA's research and project specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 252, or by e-mail at karinw@asashop.org.

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