Myanmar bans import of air conditioners using HCFCs from July 2020 
On April 2, 2020, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation of Myanmar enacted Notification No. 28/2020 banning the import of air conditioners using HCFCs (R22 refrigerant). According to this notification, the import of air conditioners (HCFCs/R-22 based split and window type air conditioner equipment) of 2.5 hp or less using hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs/R-22) shall be banned from July 1, 2020. It was decided to ban the import of air conditioners (HCFCs/R-22 based split and window type air conditioner equipment) using HCFCs/R-22. However, air conditioners imported by the end of June 2020 may continue to be sold. Violation of laws or regulations shall result in imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, a fine or both in accordance with Article 32 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
Myanmar’s efforts to protect the ozone layer
Myanmar is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and is in line with the rest of the world in controlling the import and use of ozone-depleting substances. In order to reduce or eliminate the use of HCFCs, the HCFCs Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) based on the decision of the Federal Council No. (9/2013) is being implemented with the technical support of the United Nations Environment Programme.
According to the plan, the import of HCFCs (R22 refrigerant) is to be reduced to 1.95 tons by 2030, and to be completely eliminated by 2040. To this end, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation has enacted Notification No. 37/2014 dated April 25, 2014, implementing an annual quota system for imports and a licensing system.
Notification No. 28/2020 can be viewed from the following URL.
https://www.myanmartradeportal.gov.mm/uploads/legals/2020/5/HCFCsR-22.pdf
The materials released by the Environmental Conservation Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation on this Notification can be viewed from the following URL.
https://www.ecd.gov.mm/hello-world/
