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Starting from January 1, 2026, these two types of refrigerants will be phased out, involving products such as air conditioning heat pumps, refrigerators, and freezers

Time：

2025-09-15

China has officially entered a critical stage of dual line control for the phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Starting from January 1, 2026, the production of products using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as refrigerants will be gradually banned in stages.

On August 15, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued a notice on the prohibition of the production of household refrigerators and freezers using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants (draft for comments), requiring the prohibition of the production of household refrigerators and freezers using HFCs as refrigerants from January 1, 2026.

This announcement aims to fulfill the goals set forth in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol). According to the National Plan for China's Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025-2030) jointly issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and five other departments on April 9, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the "National Plan"), China has officially entered a critical stage of dual line control for the phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and the reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Starting from January 1, 2026, the production of products using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as refrigerants will be gradually banned in stages.

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Outline of this article

What refrigerants are involved?

Understand the background of the ban on HFCs and HCFCs refrigerants

Interpretation of China's National Plan for Implementing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025-2030)

Understand the implementation time of HFC and HCFCs refrigerant bans

Announcement on Prohibiting the Production of Household Refrigerators and Freezers Using Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as Refrigerants (Draft for Comments)

1、 What refrigerants are involved?

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are two important fluorinated refrigerants in the refrigeration field.

Common models of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants include R134a, R32, R404A, R410A, R407C, R507A, etc.

Common models of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFCs) refrigerants include R22, R141b, R142b, R123, etc.

2、 Understand the background of the ban on HFCs and HCFCs

In 2016, the parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer reached the Kigali Amendment, with the goal of reducing global HFCs by at least 80% in the coming decades.

On April 16, 2021, China announced its decision to accept the Kigali Amendment, which will strengthen the control of non carbon dioxide greenhouse gases such as HFCs.

On September 15, 2021, the Kigali Amendment officially came into effect for China. According to the Kigali Amendment, China needs to freeze the production and use of HFCs at baseline levels by 2024, reduce them by 10% from baseline in 2029, 30% in 2035, 50% in 2040, and 80% in 2045.

On April 9, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and five other departments jointly issued the "National Plan for China's Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025-2030)", marking a key stage in China's implementation of the dual line control of phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

3、 Interpretation of China's National Plan for Implementing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025-2030)

The National Plan for China's Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025-2030) proposes 11 specific tasks from four aspects: source control, process control, end of pipe treatment, and import and export management. It comprehensively strengthens the management of ozone depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons, collaborates to address ozone depletion and climate change, and promotes green, low-carbon, and high-quality development of related industries.

（1） Implementation time of the ban on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

According to the section on "Reducing the Controlled Use of HFCs" in the National Plan, it is mentioned to reduce the controlled use of HFCs. By January 1, 2029, the controlled use of HFCS shall be reduced by at least 10% of the baseline value.

·Starting from January 1, 2026, the Chinese home appliance industry will completely ban the production of refrigerators and freezers using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants.

·Starting from January 1, 2029, the Chinese home appliance industry will prohibit the production of room air conditioners filled with refrigerants with a GWP value greater than 750 for domestic sales, except for household multi split air conditioning (heat pump) units; Encourage the use of natural refrigerants.

·Starting from January 1, 2029, China's industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning industry will prohibit the production of unit air conditioning units (with rated cooling or heating capacity<12kW) and ducted air conditioning (heat pump) units (with rated cooling or heating capacity<12kW) filled with refrigerants with a GWP value greater than 750; Prohibit the production, construction, or expansion of other refrigeration equipment or systems filled with refrigerants with a GWP value greater than 2500 (except for equipment with an evaporation temperature below -50 ℃); Encourage the use of natural refrigerants in large and medium-sized refrigeration systems and light commercial refrigeration equipment in the industrial and cold chain logistics fields.

（2） Implementation time of ban on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

According to the National Plan, it is explicitly stated that all industries must completely phase out the controlled use of HCFCs by January 1, 2030, except for retaining a small amount for refrigeration and air conditioning maintenance purposes.

·Starting from January 1, 2030, the Chinese home appliance industry will prohibit the production of household appliances using HCFCS as a refrigerant.

·Starting from January 1, 2027, China's industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning industry prohibits the production of multi unit air conditioning (heat pump) units using HCFCS as the refrigerant.

·Starting from January 1, 2030, the Chinese industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning industry will prohibit the production of industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment using HCFCS as a refrigerant.

4、 Announcement on Prohibiting the Production of Household Refrigerators and Freezers Using Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as Refrigerants (Draft for Comments)

Announcement content:

1、 Starting from January 1, 2026, the production of household refrigerators and freezers using HFCs as refrigerants will be prohibited.

2、 The household refrigerators and freezers applicable to this announcement refer to the household refrigerators and freezers products specified in the standards in the attached table.

3、 All relevant departments should urge enterprises to conscientiously implement the above regulations and effectively carry out the phase out of HFCs used as refrigerants in the household refrigerator and freezer industry. Enterprises that violate the above regulations by using HFCs shall be punished by the local ecological environment department in conjunction with relevant departments in accordance with the law.

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5、 Compliance interpretation

The Announcement stipulates the areas and scope of products prohibited from using HFCs as refrigerants. Starting from January 1, 2026, the production of household refrigerators and freezers using HFCs as refrigerants will be prohibited. According to the National Plan, the ban on using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as refrigerants will also be gradually implemented in stages. It is recommended that relevant enterprises should do a good job in phasing out and replacing these two types of refrigerants in advance to ensure compliant product sales.

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