Canada: HFC regulations enter in force

On April 16, 2018, the Canadian Regulations Amending the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations entered into force. They will ensure Canada’s full compliance with its obligations under the Kigali Amendment – that Canada ratified on November 3, 2017 – before it enters into force on January 1, 2019.

These regulations provide a HFC phase-down schedule to limit HFC consumption by 85% by 2036, in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, and high-GWP HFC bans in certain types of equipment.

The phase-down schedule starts in 2019 with a 10% cut to “baseline” levels of HFC consumption, which are calculated using the consumption of HFCs and HCFCs from 2011 to 2013.

Slightly different than under the Kigali Agreement, the further reductions in HFC consumption from baseline will be the following : 40% by 2024 ; 70% by 2030 ; 80% by 2034 ; 85% by 2036.

Consumption allowances will be distributed based on an individual importers’ share of Canada’s total HFC consumption in 2014 and 2015.

Under the second part of the plan, the use of high-GWP HFCs will be prohibited in specific products as of a certain year, as follows:

 

 

For further information, please follow the links below.