Gary Keyes, Donny Seyfer and Diane Larson, independent repair shop owners, engaged in open discussions at the 2014 General Meeting of the Brake Manufacturers Council (BMC) of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), held on Nov. 3, just prior to the official opening of the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX).
The three, who are all members of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and serve in various board capacities, addressed what their training needs are now and what they will be in the future. They also dialogued with top manufacturers of brake components as to how they could more effectively prevent unnecessary returns or “comebacks.”
Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs, MEMA/AASA, and Leigh Merino, senior director, regulatory affairs, MEMA/AASA, presented an update on the legislative and regulatory successes of the BMC in 2014.
The BMC and the MEMA Washington, D.C., office coordinated a presentation by auto industry stakeholders to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year to open the dialogue on a national memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the abatement of copper, asbestos, cadmium, chromium VI and mercury in brake pads. The MOU seeks to establish a voluntary practice that is modeled on existing laws and regulations currently in effect in California and Washington State, and to prevent disparate legislation from being passed in other states.
Discussions with BMC members during the annual MEMA Legislative Summit in 2014 were instrumental in the addition of a provision in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill of 2015, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, requiring the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) to send a report to Congress regarding imported brake products containing asbestos. Such imports have an unfair advantage over U.S. manufacturers who have forgone the use of asbestos.
The BMC meets twice a year to address issues current or anticipated facing automotive brake parts and systems manufacturers.
For more information about the Council, visit www.brakecouncil.org.