From 1 July 2024, Australia will ban the import and manufacture of small air-conditioning units that use refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) above 750.
The ban applies to products:
Equipment designed to use refrigerants exceeding 750 GWP, even if the equipment is imported without refrigerant;
Portable, window, and split air-conditioning equipment with a refrigerant charge of up to 2.6 kg used to cool or heat a space;
Equipment imported under a licence, and equipment imported in small quantities under an exempted licence.
Products to which the ban does not apply:
Air-conditioning equipment for use in mobile units such as caravans and boats;
Air-conditioning equipment for computer rooms;
Equipment imported under licence exemptions e.g. personal equipment, equipment returned to Australia and temporarily imported equipment.
Equipment currently on sale will not be affected and equipment imported or manufactured before 1 July 2024 will be allowed to be sold after that date.