Small AC Equipment Import Ban (Effective July 1 2024)

From 1 July 2024, small air conditioning equipment with high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants such as R-410A and R-134A will no longer be allowed to be imported into Australia. However, there is an exemption for all mobile equipment containing these HFC refrigerant gasses (i.e. mobile machinery, motor vehicles, caravans, boats and aircraft).

Therefore, most NMT clients should not be affected by this change in policy.

The ban is applicable to small air conditioning equipment (cooling, heating, or both) for human use in stationary areas.

BANNED REFRIGERANTS: GWP ABOVE 750

i.e. R-410A (GWP 2088), R-134A (GWP 1430).

Equipment types included in the ban:

If they also include any of the specs listed below.

outdoor units with a single-head split air conditioning system.
portable air conditioners;
window or wall air conditioners (where the unit is fixed to as window or wall).

Equipment specs included in the ban:

standard refrigerant charge 2.6kg (or less), and
contains (or designed to operate with) a HFC refrigerant with a GWP of more than 750.

IMPORTERS CAN APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION

Equipment licences will allow equipment to be imported for:

essential services/safety (when practical/effective alternatives are not available) i.e. medical, veterinary, defence, industrial, public safety or scientific purposes;
equipment is incidental to the main import (impractical to remove/retrofit the equipment) i.e. equipment incorporated into a large boat or drilling rig.

REFRIGERANTS ALLOWED: GWP 750 OR LESS

i.e. R-32 (GWP 675), R-290 (GWP < 5).

Equipment excluded from the ban:

outdoor ducted systems;
outdoor multi-head split air conditioning systems;
mobile equipment i.e. mobile machinery, motor vehicles, caravans, boats and aircraft; designed for use in computer rooms and electrical enclosures;
designed for use in computer rooms and electrical enclosures;
air-to-water equipment i.e. hydronic home heating systems and swimming pool heat pumps.

Existing equipment in Australia will not be affected.

Any equipment imported (or manufactured) in Australia before 1 July 2024 may continue to be sold after that date.

NMT staff will keep clients informed if their cargo may be affected by this program.