Japan’s Policy Measures forControlling Refrigerant- focusing on Quota system and toprunner scheme 3 July 2023
YAMADA Tadashi
Fluoride Gases Management Office
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Kigali Amendment to Ozone Layer Protection Law
Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol was adopted in October 2016.
◦ The amendment obliges Parties to reduce (phase-down) production and consumption of HFCs.
Japan amended the Ozone Layer Protection Law in June 2018 for reflecting the Kigali Amendment.
◦ Introduced regulatory measures such as controlling manufactures and imports of HFCs.
◦ The amended law was enacted in December 2018 and came into force on 1 January 2019.
Japan accepted the Kigali Amendment in December 2018.

Details of Introduced Policy Measures○ The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) along with the Ministry of the Environment (MOE)determines and publishes the limit of production as well as consumption of HFCs which Japan should
comply with in accordance with the Protocol.
○ Manufacturers and importers of HFCs obliged to request METI’s permission as a quota formanufacture/import of HFCs.
• Import is subject to the provisions and procedure of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.
○ HFCs as feedstock in the manufacture of other chemicals are exempted from the quota after the checkand confirmation conducted by METI.
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Recent Result of Quota System (Consumption)
 2022 quota was allocated enough below the national cap of Kigali Amendment

39.39 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent were allocated to 8 manufacturers and 25 importers for basic uses.
450,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent were allocated to 3 manufacturers and 8 importers for special uses.
39.85 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent as total consumption fell well below Japan’s national cap.

 2021 actual consumption fell below the allocated quota

34.30 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent were actually consumed within the allocated quota.
71.52 【Baseline(100%)】(mill CO2-t)

▲10％
64.36

52.90
(2019 quota)

49.97(2020 quota)
44.21
47.54
(2021 quota)(2019 actual)
39.85(2022quota)
40.37(2020 actual)

▲40％
42.91

2019 2020 2021
（Control began）

▲70％
21.45

28.40

34.30
(2021 actual)
2017

Forecast based on
Fluorocarbons Emission
Restraining Law

▲80％
14.30

▲85％
10.73

14.5020242025

2029 2030※ Baseline is based on the calculation of averaged volume from 2011 to 2013.

203420362

Two Regulatory Measures for Reducing HFCs Emission
 Ozone Layer Protection Law：To comply with the Montreal Protocol, this law aims tocontrol consumption and production of controlled substances by regulating theirproductions and imports.
 Fluorocarbons Emission Restraining Law：This law aims to control emissions overthe lifecycle of Fluorocarbons from up-stream to down-stream.
Ozone Layer Protection Law

 Control over manufacturers and importersof Fluorocarbons (CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs)
FluorocarbonsManufacturers

Fluorocarbons Emission Restraining Law
Product Manufacturers
Using Fluorocarbons

・Reduction of environmental impactof Fluorocarbons used indesignated products

RecycleRefrigerator and Air
Conditioner Users

Destruction/RecyclingOperators

 Comprehensive approaches
throughout the lifecycle ofFluorocarbons

Filling/RecoveryOperators

Recovery of
Fluorocarbons fromDisposed Equipment

・Periodical inspection of equipment
and report of leakage amount・Recovery of refrigerant
Fluorocarbons at equipment
disposal・Appropriate destruction or recycle
Periodical of refrigerant Fluorocarbons
Inspection recovered from equipment
Report Leakage
Amountand Others3Promoting Low-GWP Top-runner Products Fluorocarbons Emission Restraining Law designates product categories, for which
lower-GWP refrigerants are available in the market.
 Based on the best available product (called “top-runner”), the target value (GWP) is
determined in that product category with the target year for achieving that target value.
 Manufacturers and importers are required to meet the target GWP value for theirproducts by the target year.
High GWP

Index Related to Environmental Impacts

 A target value is determined based on thelowest GWP refrigerant available in the market.

DesignatedProductsTYPEa・Fluorocarbon Refrigerants
GWP = A(Large Size)

TYPEb(Medium andSmall Size) Safety, cost, energy-saving capacity and otheraspects are taken into account.
Target GWP
TYPE

Companies are expected
to shift their products to
those with lower GWP
refrigerants.

・Fluorocarbon Refrigerants
GWP = Ba・Lower-GWP Refrigerants
GWP = C < ATYPEb

・Lower-GWP Refrigerants
GWP = D < BLow GWPAt the Time of Target Setting

Targeted Fiscal Year4

Refrigerant Currently Used (GWPs)

Target GWP

TargetYear

R410A (2090), R32 (675)

750

2018

(a) Refrigeration Capacity less than 3 Tonnes (except Floor-types)

R410A (2090), R32 (675)

750

2020

(b) Refrigeration Capacity more than 3 Tonnes (except Floor-types)

R410A(2090)

750

2023

R134a (1430), R245fa (1030)

100

2025

R410A (2090)

750

2025

R134a(1430)

150

2023

R404A (3920), R410A (2090),
R407C (1770), CO2 (1)

1500

2025

100

2024

100

2024

100

2019

100

2020

10020241002024102019

Specified Product Categories
Residential Air-conditioners
Commercial Air-conditioners(c) Central Air-conditioners (Centrifugal Chillers)(d) Multiple-type air-conditioner for building use (those installed in new buildings or
those with replacement of all refrigerant piping, excluding those for use of coolingand heating at the same time and those for use in cold district)
Automotive Air-conditioners - Passenger cars only (except those for 11 or more passengers)
Condensing Units / Stationary Refrigeration Units (excluding those compressor with rated
output of 1.5kW or less)
Refrigerator and Freezer using rigid polyurethane foam
Vending Machine with a Refrigerating or Freezing Function using rigid
polyurethane foamCentralised Refrigerators (only for new refrigerated warehouses having effective volume of atleast 50,000m3)
Rigid Polyurethane Foam Stock Solution for residential use
Rigid Polyurethane Foam Stock Solution for use other than residential use
Heat Insulating Materials (using rigid polyurethane foam)
Aerosol Spray Cans (except those requiring non-flammability)

HFC-245fa (1030),
HFC-365mfc (795)
R404A (3920),
Ammonia（1 digit value）
HFC-245fa (1030),
HFC-365mfc (795)

HFC-134a (1430), HFC-152a (124),
CO2 (1), DME (1)5Newly specified product category designated in 2023

目標年を迎えた指定製品の達成状況

 Following five specified categories are designated with “Target value” and “Target year” in 2023
Specified product category

Main refrigerants
currently usedand GW

Reciprocating liquid chiller for air conditioning

R410A(2090)

750

2027

R410A(2090)

750

2027

R410A(2090)

750

2027

・Automobile air conditioner for buses and trucks

R134a(1430)

150

2029

Refrigerate and freeze equipment combined unit for commercial use

R134a(1430)
R404A(3920)
R410A(2090)
R407C(1770)
CO2(1)

1502029

Gas engine heat pump air conditioners(those installed in new buildings or those with replacement of all refrigerant piping, excluding thosefor use of cooling and heating at the same time and those for use in cold district)

Air conditioners for facilities(those installed in new buildings or those with replacement of all refrigerant piping, excluding thosefor specific use such as for those computers, those for use at medium temperature range, and all-inone air conditioners)

Automotive air conditioners(automobiles that carries 11 people or more) and trucks (automobiles used for freight shipment)(those that have refrigerator and freezer within housing)・Commercial refrigerator and freezer for commercial kitchen(Those where the refrigerant evaporates at above -45 degrees Celsius)

・Refrigerated display cabinets with incorporated motor
compressors (compressor capacity is 750W or less)Environmental
impact target
value

Targetyear

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Achievement of Top-Runners

目標年を迎えた指定製品の達成状況

 All product categories which reached the target year have achieved the target GWP value.
 METI checked the achievement in other product categories in each target year.
 Lower target GWP value will be re-designated for already achieved product categories
after newly developed top-runner product becomes available in the market.
Target GWP
Value

Target Year

Residential Air-conditioners

750

2018

Centralised Refrigerators

100

2019

Aerosol Spray Cans (Dust Blower)

10

2019

Refrigeration Capacity less than 3Tonnes

750

2020

Rigid Polyurethane Foam Undiluted
Liquid in Residential building

100

2020

Product Categories

Achievement• Weighted average GWP value for total category is 685.
• All 11 manufacturers have achieved the target value.
• Refrigerant has been replaced by HFC-32 (GWP675).
• Weighted average GWP value for total category is 1.62.
• All 4 manufactures have achieved the target value.
• Replaced by CO2 (1) or combination of CO2/NH3 (2).
• Weighted average GWP value for total category is 2.7.
• 19 out of 20 manufactures have achieved the target.
Remaining one has also achieved after the target year.
• Replaced by HFO (GWP1) or DME (GWP1)• Weighted average GWP value for total category is 687.7.
• All 6 manufactures have achieved the target value.
• Refrigerant has been replaced by HFC-32 (GWP650).
• Weighted average GWP value for total category is 17.3.
• 7 out 8 manufactures have achieved the target.
Remaining one has also achieved after the target year.
• Replaced by HFO (GWP<2) or H2O/CO2 (GWP1).

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