How Effective is Refrigerant Legislation?

[Argus]

I?m doing some private research into the extent and comparative effect of refrigerant based legislation through the world and I?m looking for information either directly from Forum members, or from websites (English Language, please!), that explain how legislation is drafted and enforced (or not as the case may be) in their counties.
Being a UK resident, I?m pretty much up to speed with this country.

At present there are numerous treaties and national articles of law governing the sale, handling and use of Ozone Depleters, and Green House Gases throughout the world.

Attempts to harmonise in the EU still leaves some countries with hardly any laws in place to those where regulation of uses and even ownership of systems is closely regulated.

What I?m interested in is the ways that the following are being controlled:
CFCs
HCFCs
HFCs
HCs

Obviously the EU has its own regulations for Ozone depleters and Fluorinated gas regulations are on the way, but at the present time individual countries both in the EU and beyond have differing requirements for handling these substances.

So, my main basic questions, by country, are:

1. What restrictions or requirements are in place on buying and selling these gases in your country?
2. What requirements, either statutory or voluntary, are in place for technicians who handle these gases in their daily work repairing and charging systems in your country? Licensing? Qualifications?
3. What legal requirements are in place for the end-of-life disposal of these gases in your country?
4. Are there any new regulations or laws in preparation in your country?
5. Taxes and other fiscal penalties?
6. Finally, how well are they enforced?

The countries I am interested in are:

All EU members and accession countries (Especially accession countries).
EFTA countries. (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland).
USA
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
South Africa,
India
China

Plus any others who may be able to help.

Many thanks in advance.

Argus
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