In addition to the standards and test procedures adopted by the state board pursuant to Sections 43203.5 and 44201, the state board may adopt, by regulation, alternate test procedures for certifying direct import vehicles identical to the test procedures applicable to those vehicles pursuant to the National Emission Standards Act (42 U.S.C., Secs. 1857f-1 to 1857f-7, incl.) and the regulations adopted thereunder, if the emission standards applicable to those motor vehicles are the standards adopted by the state board for new or used direct import vehicles pursuant to Section 43203.5 or 44201, respectively.

Those alternate test procedures shall be adopted only if the state board determines that those procedures would be at least as effective for controlling motor vehicle emissions as the procedures adopted pursuant to Section 43203.5 or 44201, as applicable.