United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final phase program regarding the production and import of the refrigerant HCFC-22. Since January 1, 2015, the order calls for an immediate drop from 51 million pounds (23,200 tons) allowed in 2014 to 22 million pounds (10,000 tons) in 2015.
After that, 18 million pounds (8,200 tons) of new and imported R-22 will be allowed in 2016, 13 million (5,900 tons) pounds in 2017, 9 million pounds (4,100 tons) in 2018, and 4 million pounds (1,800 tons) in 2019.
No new or imported R-22s will be allowed from 1 January 2020.
In its October 17, 2014 announcement, the EPA ended up using what it described as a "more aggressive linear reduction." Other options would have allowed between £30 million and £36 million in 2015, well above the £22 million now being allowed.
