NEA consults on requirements for equipment containing hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants

29 September 2025

On 8 September 2025, the National Environment Agency (“NEA”) launched a public consultation seeking feedback on the introduction of global warming potential (“GWP”) limits on certain new equipment and vehicles and mandatory on-site recovery of refrigerants recovered during the decommissioning of certain equipment and vehicles. The consultation closed on 19 September 2025.

Background

Singapore has raised its national climate ambition to reduce emissions to around 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2030. Hydrofluorocarbons (“HFCs”) are commonly used as refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and have high GWP. These refrigerants leak during use and disposal, contributing significantly to emissions.

NEA has already banned the sale of new household air-conditioners and refrigerators and water-cooled chillers that use refrigerants with high GWP. In addition, NEA has mandated on-site recovery of refrigerant from decommissioned chillers and submission of records for regulated greenhouse gas (“GHG”) works on chillers, among other measures.

To support Singapore’s climate commitments, NEA conducted a comprehensive study to assess the feasibility of mitigation measures for a wide range of equipment across various applications. The study examined cost-viable low
GWP alternatives for Singapore and best practices adopted in key regions. The proposed measures were refined taking into consideration industry readiness, cost impacts to stakeholders, and feedback from informal consultations conducted with stakeholders in 2023 and 2024.

Proposed introduction of GWP limits

The proposed regulations will ban the sale of the following new equipment and vehicles containing HFC refrigerants that do not meet the GWP limit of 150:

  • Standalone commercial refrigerators (≤150g charge);
  • Centralised commercial refrigeration systems; and
  • Passenger cars and light goods vehicles (“LGVs”).

When this proposal is adopted, applicable equipment and vehicles will be regulated under the Environmental Protection and Management Act 1999 and such regulated goods will be required to (i) be registered; and (ii) contain refrigerants that do not exceed the prescribed GWP limit of 150.

The proposed requirements will be implemented on 1 April 2027. Suppliers of new regulated equipment and vehicles will be given a grace period up to 31 March 2028 to clear existing stocks of equipment and vehicles containing refrigerants that do not meet the imposed GWP limit and to fulfil agreements or contracts entered before 1 April 2027.

Proposed mandatory on-site recovery of refrigerants

The proposed regulations will require companies to recover refrigerants with GWP of more than 15 from the following equipment during decommissioning works:

  • Centralised commercial refrigeration systems;
  • Centralised industrial refrigeration systems for cold rooms;
  • Passenger cars and LGVs; and
  • Refrigerated trucks.

When this proposal is adopted, companies involved in installation, maintenance, or decommissioning works are to:

  • register with NEA as a GHG entity;
  • recover refrigerants with GWP of more than 15 from regulated equipment during decommissioning works;
  • ensure that the refrigerants are sent to a licensed toxic industrial waste collector for recycling/reclamation/destruction; and
  • maintain and submit records of regulated GHG works (installation, maintenance, or decommissioning) quarterly.

The proposed requirements will be implemented on 1 April 2027.

Reference materials

The public consultation is available on the REACH portal www.reach.gov.sg.