Mexico Sets HCFC Consumption Limits for 2026–2030 Under Montreal Protocol

Sets HCFC Consumption Limits

Mexico: Mexico has established maximum allowable consumption levels for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its commitments under the Montreal Protocol, according to a measure published on Jan. 23, 2026, in the Official Gazette of the Federation. Issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the regulation strengthens the framework governing ozone-depleting substances and provides regulatory certainty for the refrigeration and air-conditioning industries as Mexico enters the final phase of its national HCFC phaseout. HCFCs, which are controlled under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, have been widely used across refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, foams, aerosols, fire extinguishers, fumigants, and solvents. They are the last ozone-depleting substances still in use in Mexico and are scheduled for complete elimination by Jan. 1, 2030. Under SEMARNAT’s National HCFC Consumption Phaseout Plan, HCFCs have already been phased out in commercial and domestic refrigeration, aerosols, foams, and solvents, with Mexico achieving an 84.2% reduction in consumption by 2024 compared with the 2013 baseline.

The final phase will focus on the service sector, which still depends on HCFCs, through technician training, equipment donations, certification programs, enhanced customs controls to prevent illicit trade, support for small businesses transitioning to alternatives, and the development of refrigerant recovery, recycling, and regeneration systems. Mexico has implemented more than 170 Montreal Protocol–related projects and, in October 2025, reviewed its National Refrigerant Life-Cycle Management Plan to strengthen Recovery and Recycling Centers and Collection and Destruction Centers. As the global refrigeration industry shifts toward low–global-warming, ozone-friendly alternatives, Mexico is promoting natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. At the global level, UNEP warns that cooling demand could triple, with capacity rising from 22 TW in 2022 to 68 TW by 2050 and emissions increasing from 4.1 Gt CO₂e to 7.2 Gt CO₂e, despite efficiency gains. UNEP’s proposed Sustainable Cooling Pathway combining passive design, efficient technologies, hybrid systems, and accelerated HFC phaseout could cut 2050 emissions by 64%, save USD 17 billion in energy costs, avoid USD 26 billion in grid investments, and expand sustainable cooling access to 3 billion people, as 72 countries work toward a 68% reduction in cooling emissions by 2050.

Source: Mexico Business News