Federal Government Finalizes Ban on High-GWP Small Air Conditioners in Australia

Australia: The federal government has amended The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations to ban the import and manufacture of small air conditioning systems using high-GWP refrigerants. Starting July 1, 2024, restrictions will apply to outdoor units for single-head split systems, portable air conditioners, and window/wall units, extending to multi-head split systems from July 1, 2025. The ban targets equipment with refrigerants like R410A and R134a, while allowing those using R32 and R290. Exemptions include ducted systems, mobile applications, and specific industrial uses. The amendments also introduce increased penalties and new regulatory provisions to enforce compliance effectively. 

Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia