R-22 phase-out timeline in India
The schedule, in full
India accepted the accelerated HCFC phase-out under Montreal Protocol Decision XIX/6 (2007) and implements it through the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), now in Stage-III. The baseline is the 2009–10 average consumption of 1,608.20 ODP tonnes.
| Milestone | Requirement | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2013 | Freeze at baseline | Done |
| 1 Jan 2015 | 10% reduction | Done |
| 1 Jan 2020 | 35% reduction · HCFC-141b import ban | Done |
| 1 Jan 2025 | 67.5% reduction · HCFCs out of new-equipment manufacturing | In force |
| 1 Jan 2030 | 97.5% reduction | Ahead |
| 2030–2040 | 2.5% annual-average servicing tail | Ahead |
If you run R-22 equipment, this is the practical read
- Your equipment stays legal. Nothing requires you to scrap a working R-22 plant; the controls are on supply, not on use.
- Supply tightens every cycle. Each quota step removes volume from the market — plan major maintenance early in the year rather than late.
- Leak-tightness is now an economic issue. Every kilogram lost is bought back at scarcity prices; fixing leaks beats topping up.
- Source from registered sellers only. As quotas shrink, unregistered and dubious supply grows. Rule 6 registration is your filter — here's how to check it.
- Plan the eventual transition. For equipment nearing end of life, the replacement decision is when R-22 exposure ends; new systems run R-32, R-410A and successors.
Quick answers
What is India's R-22 phase-out schedule?
Freeze in 2013, 10% cut by 2015, 35% by 2020, 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 through 2040.
Does the phase-out make my R-22 equipment illegal?
No. The controls apply to production, import and sale of the gas — not to owning or running existing equipment. Servicing remains legal via registered sellers.
When did R-22 stop being used in new equipment?
From 1 January 2025, HCFCs including R-22 cannot be used in manufacturing new equipment in India under HPMP Stage-III.
- India Ozone Cell (MoEFCC) — ozonecell.nic.in, HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-III project document (PDF).
- 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.