The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act was enacted by the US Congress on December 27, 2020.

It authorizes the EPA, the US Environmental Protection Agency, to address the problem of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by gradually reducing its production and consumption, maximizing recovery and minimizing emissions from equipment, and facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies through sectoral restrictions.

In December 2022, EPA made a new bill that focuses on the transition to alternatives through sector restrictions.

In line with the AIM Act, EPA is proposing to limit the use of certain high global warming potential HFCs in aerosols, foams, refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump products and equipment. The proposed rule would mostly ban the production and import of products containing restricted HFCs by January 1, 2025, and would ban the sale, distribution and export of products containing restricted HFCs by January 1, 2026.

The new proposals, announced yesterday under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, apply to both imported and domestically produced products. They include a 700 GWP limit for residential and light commercial chillers, air conditioning systems and heat pumps from 1 January 2025.

Also starting from 1st January 2025, some commercial refrigeration systems such as stand alone appliances and commercial systems with charges above approximately 91 Kg will be limited to a GWP of 150, while systems with lower charges will be limited to refrigerants with GWP up to 300.