Regulatory amendments on hydrofluorocarbons: frequently asked questions

Official title: Regulations amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations: frequently asked questions

Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations

1. What is the purpose of these regulations?
2. What are the key elements of these regulations?
3. How do these regulations affect Canadian businesses?
4. What is the timeline for implementation?
5. Where can I get more information?

1. What is the purpose of these regulations?

The Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (amendments) aim to reduce the supply of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that enter into Canada and the demand for HFCs in manufactured products, thereby averting future HFC releases to the environment. This will reduce Canadian GHG emissions, in order to help limit increases in global average temperatures and contribute to Canada’s international obligations to combat climate change.

The amendments will ensure Canada is able to meet its obligations established under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol). The Kigali Amendment is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda. The Kigali Amendment adds hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases introduced to replace ozone-depleting substances, to the list of controlled substances under the Protocol.

2. What are the key elements of these regulations?

The Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (amendments) establish a phase-down of HFC consumption (manufacture plus import minus export) from an established baseline. The phase down begins in 2019 with a 10% reduction in consumption with further reduction steps in 2024, 2029 and 2034 in order to achieve an 85 percent reduction in HFC consumption by 2036. The amendments also introduce prohibitions, by specific dates, on the manufacture and import of certain products and equipment that contain, or are designed to contain, HFCs and HFC blends, with a global warming potential (GWP) above a specific limit.

3. How do these regulations affect Canadian businesses?

The Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Regulations (mendments) apply to companies manufacturing, importing, exporting, using and selling HFCs alone or in a blend, and to companies manufacturing, importing, and exporting products containing or that are designed to contain HFCs.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are substances used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, as foam blowing agents, and as aerosol propellants.

The Amendments apply to the refrigeration and air conditioning, foam, mobile air-conditioning, and aerosols sectors.

Please note that the controls on HFCs in place under the current Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (that is: requirement to obtain written authorizations for certain activities and to report on those activities) will continue with the coming into force of the amendments.

4. What is the timeline for implementation?

The Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (amendments) published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on October 18, 2017, will come into force on April 18, 2018.

The amendments establish a phase-down of HFC consumption from an established baseline. The phase down begins in 2019 with a 10% reduction in consumption with further reduction steps in 2024, 2029 and 2034 in order to achieve an 85 percent reduction in HFC consumption by 2036.

The amendments also introduce prohibitions, by specific dates, on the manufacture and import of certain products and equipment that contain, or are designed to contain, HFCs and HFC blends, with a global warming potential (GWP) above a specific limit.  Depending on the different types of products within each sector, different dates for their prohibitions apply. Please refer to the amendments for details on timelines for prohibitions on specific products and equipment.

5. Where can I get more information?

Website
E-mail
Telephone: 819-938-4228
Facsimile: 819-938-4218

Regular mail:

Manager
Ozone Layer Protection and Export Controls
Chemical Production Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 Boulevard Saint-Joseph 19th Floor
Gatineau QC
K1A 0H3

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Inquiry Centre

As part of compliance promotion efforts for the Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations, industry fact sheets highlighting key changes in the regulations will be made available on the ozone layer web page.

For more information

• Federal regulatory management
• The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
• The Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and consulting with Canadians websites.