NAMA seeks more time for HFC comments

USA: The vending equipment group NAMA is calling on the US EPA to extend the comment period for its proposal to ban HFC refrigerants in certain applications.

In July, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced proposals to delist certain high GWP HFCs from its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Programme – effectively banning them from as early as the end of next year.

Under the proposals the commonly-used supermarket refrigeration gases R404A and R507A as well as R134a and certain higher GWP could be banned in certain applications from January 1, 2016. The ban includes the use of these refrigerants in stand-alone retail food refrigeration and new vending machines, condensing units, direct supermarket systems and indirect supermarket systems from January 1, 2016.

The request, filed in conjunction with several trade associations, including the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers and the American Beverage Association, asks for a 60-day extension on the comment period for the proposed rule.

“NAMA is working with industry machine manufacturers to assess the impact of the proposed regulations,” commented Eric Dell, NAMA’s senior vice president of government affairs. “With the amount of pending, applicable regulations from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the EPA, it is essential that the comment period be extended to provide for the industry to adequately determine the impact and respond.”

Founded in 1936, NAMA is the association representing the $42bn US vending and refreshment service industry. It has more than 1800 member companies, including many of the world’s most recognised brands.

US could ban R404A from 2016 – July 11, 2014
USA: A number of common HFC refrigerants including R404A and R134a could be banned in certain uses from as early as January 1, 2016, under new proposals put forward by the US EPA. Read more…

Refrigerant ban “a threat to industry” – August 15, 2014
USA: Foodservice equipment manufacturers have been the first to react to the US EPA’s proposal to phase-out high GWP refrigerants by 2016, calling it “unrealistic, if not impossible”. Read more…