One of the most common refrigerants on farm is HCFC22 (often known as R22) - a fluorinated greenhouse gas widely used in milk bulk tank chillers and packhouse or coldstore equipment.
As part of the Kyoto protocol, the EU is taking action to reduce emissions of ozone depleting gases with EC Reg 2037/2000, which came into force in 2000 but will have a growing impact on HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) users from 2010 onwards.
EC Regulation 2037/2000 states that no virgin HCFCs can be supplied from 1 January 2010. Manufacturers are no longer allowed to sell R22 equipment and farmers are now restricted to using recovered or reclaimed refrigerant when servicing existing HCFC systems until 31 December 2014. On 1 January 2015 all HCFC use will be prohibited.
Changes under this Regulation will make R22 increasingly scarce in the future, and drive its price higher prior to the complete ban in its use in 2015.
Members who use refrigerants in equipment (such as bulk milk tanks) should be aware of these changes when purchasing new equipment and servicing existing equipment.
The briefing, available to download on the right of the page, outlines the changes and advises members on the appropriate course of action to deal with the change in HCFC use.
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