On 13th of June 2000, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, approving a text by the Conciliation Committee on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

For the Commercial Air Conditioning and Refrigeration branche, Articles 5c & 17 of this text in particular are of importance. These articles describe further restrictions for the use of HCFC refrigerants such as R22. In short, the articles state the following:

Article 5c(iii) & 5c(iv)
The use of HCFC refrigerants in new equipment shall be prohibited according to the following schedule:
01/01/2000: In public and distribution cold stores and warehouses
01/01/2000: In equipment with shaft input > 150 kW
01/01/2001: In air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment with cooling capacity > 100 kW
01/01/2001: In refrigeration equipment with cooling capacity < 100 kW
01/07/2002: In fixed air-conditioning equipment with cooling capacity < 100 kW
01/01/2004: In reversible air-conditioning/heat pump systems

Article 5c(v)
The use of HCFC's shall be prohibited for maintenance and service of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment:
01/01/2010: Virgin HCFC
01/01/2015: Recycled HCFC (to be reviewed before 31/12/2008)

Article 17
All precautionary measures practicable shall be taken to prevent and minimise leakages of controlled substances. In particular, fixed equipment with a refrigerating fluid charge of more than 3 kg shall be checked for leakages annually.