Renewal time: 2011-10-24 11:01:04
        Since 1 July 2010, Australia has banned under license conditions of the pre-charged equipment license, the import of most air-conditioning equipment containing or designed to operate with hydro chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerant (whether the equipment is gassed or not). Any imports received in Australia after this time have been denied entry unless the equipment is exempt under the condition outlined in the importer's existing pre-charged equipment license.
        On 18 May 2011, when amendments to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995 came into force, the ban has been extended to include the import and manufacture of both refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment containing or designed to operate with HCFC refrigerant (whether the equipment is gassed or not).
        From this date the import and manufacture of equipment containing HCFC or designed to operate on HCFCs has been prohibited unless the equipment:
is a HCFC pre-charged refrigeration equipment;
is a HCFC pre-charged air-conditioning equipment import by the holder of a pre-charged equipment licence who has been granted a partial fee waiver for a one-off low volume import;
is a chiller charged with HCFC-123;
is a replacement part for existing HCFC air-conditioning equipment. Replacement parts do not include a complete or substantially complete, indoor or outdoor unit of a split system air conditioner;
is a component for existing high static ducted split system air conditioners;
is an equipment insulated with foam manufactured with HCFC;
is an equipment for which the Minister considers it is impracticable: for the importer or license holder to comply with the ban; and to remove or retrofit the equipment because it is incidental to the main import.
        For example, 7(ii) would apply to air-conditioning equipment incorporated into a large boat or drilling rig.
        Many other countries have prohibited, or are in the process of prohibiting, the import of HCFC pre-charged equipment. These include Indonesia, the European Union and the United States.