The move is to fulfil Vietnam’s obligations to the eventual phase-out of HCFCs by 2030 under the Montreal Protocol to which Vietnam is a signatory. 

HCFCs, which are widely used in air conditioning, insulating foams and industrial refrigeration around the world, are considered to be strong ozone-depleting substances and powerful greenhouse gases. 

For HCFC-141b, which has the highest ozone depleting potential of any HCFC, the 2012 quota has been set at 500 tonnes, dropping to 300 tonnes in 2013 and 150 tonnes in 2014, with phase-out targeted for 2015. 

VNA