Is R-22 banned in India in 2026?
What actually changed on 1 January 2025
Under Stage-III of India's HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), the use of HCFCs — including R-22 — in the manufacturing of new equipment ended on 1 January 2025. An air-conditioner or chiller built in India today cannot be designed around R-22. That is the "ban" people half-remember.
What remains fully legal
Servicing existing equipment with R-22 is legal, and domestic production and import of R-22 continue under declining government quotas precisely to meet that servicing demand. India's schedule under Montreal Protocol Decision XIX/6 cuts HCFC consumption 67.5% by 2025 and 97.5% by 2030 against the 2009–10 baseline of 1,608.20 ODP tonnes — with a 2.5% annual-average servicing tail permitted through 2040. (By contrast, HCFC-141b imports were banned outright from 1 January 2020; R-22 was not.)
| Year | What the rule says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Consumption frozen at baseline | Supply capped, servicing unaffected |
| 2020 | 35% reduction | Quotas shrink; genuine sources matter more |
| 2025 | 67.5% reduction · new-equipment manufacturing ends | R-22 becomes a servicing-only product |
| 2030 | 97.5% reduction | Only a small servicing allowance remains |
| 2030–2040 | 2.5% annual-average servicing tail | Legacy equipment can still be maintained |
The one thing every buyer must check
Because R-22 is a controlled substance, Rule 6 of the ODS Rules, 2000 requires anyone who sells, stocks or distributes it to be registered with the designated authority. Buying from an unregistered seller is the real legal risk in 2026 — not the gas itself. Our four-step check works on any dealer, including us: how to verify a licensed R-22 seller.
Beyond refrigeration: the feedstock lane
R-22 also has a life outside cooling — most notably as a feedstock in fluorochemical manufacturing, where it is consumed as a raw material rather than emitted. The Montreal Protocol treats feedstock consumption separately from the phase-out limits that govern refrigerant use. Supply for feedstock purposes runs under its own registrations and conditions between registered enterprises; our certificate covers the sale of HCFC-22 for servicing refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
Quick answers
Is R-22 banned in India in 2026?
Mostly no — it depends which activity you mean. Manufacturing new equipment with HCFC-22 ended on 1 January 2025; sale is legal only through registered ODS sellers under declining quotas; servicing existing equipment remains legal, with use for servicing provided up to 1 January 2040.
Can I still get my R-22 air-conditioner serviced?
Yes. Servicing existing R-22 equipment is legal, and R-22 remains available for that purpose from registered sellers. India's schedule allows a servicing allowance through 2040.
Until when will R-22 be available in India?
Quotas fall to a 97.5% reduction by 2030, after which a 2.5% annual-average servicing tail is permitted through 2040 — so availability shrinks each year and prices reflect that scarcity.
Who can legally sell R-22 in India?
Only sellers registered under Rule 6 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Shree Suswani Refrigeration holds this registration and supplies R-22 for servicing existing equipment.
- India Ozone Cell (MoEFCC) — ozonecell.nic.in, HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-III project document (PDF).
- Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, as amended — Rule 6 (registration of sellers/stockists/distributors), via the Ozone Cell.
- Montreal Protocol, Decision XIX/6 (2007) — accelerated HCFC phase-out schedule adopted by all parties, including India.
- Certificate of Registration — M/s Shree Suswani Refrigeration (Reg. No. ODS/CS/17/6(12)/2024-OC, dated 12.11.2024), Ozone Cell, MoEFCC (available on request): sale of HCFC-22 permitted for servicing of refrigeration & air-conditioning equipment; no use/sale for manufacturing new RAC equipment after 31.12.2024; phase-out date for servicing use 1.1.2040.
This guide is general information compiled from the cited sources — not legal, safety or engineering advice. Read our full disclaimer.