On July 2, 2025, the General Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an announcement stating that in order to effectively fulfill the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and the phase-out management plan for China's polyurethane foam industry, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has organized the drafting of the "Announcement on Banning the Production of Polyurethane Products Using 1,1-Dichloro-1-Fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) as a Foaming Agent (Draft for Comments)", and is now openly soliciting opinions.

In order to fulfill the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol), and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances and the requirements of the management plan for the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons in China's polyurethane foam industry, the polyurethane foam industry will completely ban the use of 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b). In order to fulfill the objectives set forth in the Protocol, phase out ozone-depleting substances, promote the development of the industry towards low-carbon and environmentally friendly technologies, and facilitate industrial transformation and upgrading,

The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

I. From January 1, 2026, the production of combined polyethers and polyurethane products using HCFC-141b as a foaming agent (excluding spray polyurethane foam products) is prohibited. The production of refrigerator and freezer products, refrigerated containers, and electric water heater products shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the "Announcement on Banning the Production of Refrigerator and Freezer Products, Refrigerated Containers, and Electric Water Heater Products Using Monofluorodichloroethane (HCFC-141b) as a Foaming Agent" (Announcement No. 49 of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 2018); the production of insulation pipe products and solar water heater products shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the "Announcement on Banning the Production of Insulation Pipe Products and Solar Water Heater Products Using 1,1-Dichloro-1-Fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) as a Foaming Agent" (Announcement No. 28 of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 2023).

II. From July 1, 2026, the production of spray polyurethane foam products using HCFC-141b as a blowing agent shall be prohibited.

III. The spray polyurethane foam products referred to in this announcement refer to polyurethane foam materials that are sprayed on-site and possess thermal insulation and waterproofing functions, including the spray polyurethane foam products specified in the standards attached.

IV. The competent departments of ecology and environment at all levels shall urge enterprises to conscientiously implement the above-mentioned regulations and effectively carry out the phase-out of HCFC-141b in the polyurethane foam industry. For enterprises that violate the above-mentioned regulations by using HCFC-141b, the competent departments of ecology and environment, in conjunction with relevant departments, shall impose penalties in accordance with the law.

Article link: Plastics Machinery Network https://www.86pla.com/news/detail/73226.html