A bill for HFC recovery in Japan

Date: 2019/06/26
Subject: <a href="/en/news/sectoral_intelligence?news_search_form%5Bsubject_ids%5D%5B%5D=428#results">Regulation ; <a href="/en/news/sectoral_intelligence?news_search_form%5Bsubject_ids%5D%5B%5D=433#results">HFCs alternatives
Themes: <a href="/en/search/Refrigerants,%20secondary%20refrigerants:%20regulations%20and%20standards">Refrigerants, secondary refrigerants: regulations and standards
Keywords: Regulations ; Japan ; Recovery ; HFC
Commissions: Refrigerating equipment

On May 29, the Japanese government approved a draft bill on the recovery of fluorinated gases. The project was submitted in January 2019 on the initiative of experts mandated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

According to the draft bill, companies will be banned from waste disposal without an HFC recovery certificate. Prefectural governments will also be able to carry out inspections in the designated areas.

The recovery rate of fluorinated gases has not exceeded 40% per year since 2002. With this new bill, Japan hopes to reach a rate of 50% per year by 2020 and 70% per year by 2030.

The law is expected to enter into force in 2020 after being debated in the different prefectures.

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