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HCPA comments on EPA’s plans to phase down HFCs

The Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA) said it is committed to working with member companies on the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The organisation released a statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of a final rule to phase down the use of HFCs. The final rule establishes an allowance allocation and trading programme for HFCs as required by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act.

“The AIM Act directs the EPA to phase down the production and importation of HFCs in favour of alternatives that are safer for the environment,” said Dr Steve Bennett, executive vice-president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the HCPA.

“Many household and commercial products utilise the aerosol delivery form, some of which use HFCs as the propellant. HCPA actively participated in the rulemaking process to ensure member companies’ interests were represented in the final rule.”

The EPA’s programme applies to bulk HFC production and importation, but the HCPA has concerns about how the rule will be applied to imported products and materials that contain HFCs – a concern voiced by Diversified CPC on behalf of the industry recently.

If this element of the programme is not properly managed, the HCPA said it could undermine the potential benefits the AIM Act is expected to have both on the environment and the economy.

To help facilitate a successful implementation, the Biden Administration created an Interagency Task Force on Illegal HFC Trade. The HCPA said it looks forward to working with both the EPA and the Interagency Task Force on making sure imported products and materials that contain HFCs are properly accounted for.

“HCPA recognises the importance of the AIM Act, and is committed to working with member companies to phase down the use of HFCs, while still providing consumers and workers with the trusted and familiar products that they rely on to live clean and healthy lives,” the association commented.


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