United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) to advance the transition to more efficient heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technologies by restricting the use of super-polluting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in certain products and equipment where more climate-friendly alternatives are available.

This new rule would impact recognized refrigerants such as R134a, R404A, R410A, among others.

The proposed rule, which would apply to both imported and domestically manufactured products, seeks to ensure a level playing field for U.S. companies already transitioning to safer, next-generation alternatives and more energy-efficient technologies.

The bipartisan AIM Act authorizes EPA to limit or ban the use of HFCs in specific industries and to phase in these requirements as appropriate