Airconditioning Laws [Update]

[OKBANANA]

from 1st April 2004 it will be an offence under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 (the Act) to import air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment that is pre-charged with a substance that is, or contains, a HFC or HCFC without a pre-charged equipment licence.

Industry consultation on the changes has unfortunately not been comprehensive and appears to have excluded critical parties such as vehicle importers and Customs Agents. So despite a detailed discussion paper outlining the proposed reporting requirements for pre-charged equipment licences being distributed to industry in January 2004 (comments were sought by close of business on 20th February 2004), the aforementioned parties have until last week been unaware of the implications of the new legislation. Meaning of course that virtually all those importing vehicles to Australia have only just become aware of the requirements now, and some are still unaware.

For the full detail, see:

http://www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/lic...re-charged.html

http://www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/lic...nces/index.html

These new regulations not only affect vehicles with airconditioners containing the older refrigerants, but also newer vehicles manufactured after about 1994 with the accepted replacement gas. The upshot is that all airconditioning systems containing the old gas must be de-gassed prior to import. This obviously affects all 1989 and older vehicles being imported under the 15 year rule, but also many other vehicles up to 1994 being imported under SEVS.

All airconditioning systems containing the replacement gas must be imported under a licence. If a licence is not available, then they must be de-gassed prior to import. Written evidence from an authorised company of this having been undertaken will be required for Customs clearance.

The Govt. envisages that all workshops under SEVS will obtain the necessary licence, but at the moment only some SEVS workshops are intending to go this way and others are stating that all cars must be de-gassed since they are not applying for a licence.

There has been some talk of a once-off licence for individuals to cater for those importing their own vehicles that might otherwise be caught out by the late notice of the legislation, but the details have not been finalised as far as we are aware.

We understand that the old gas was used in vehicle airconditioning units up until about 1994 when the changeover occurred. However, there was no definite cut-off period, with dates varying from model to model and between manufacturers just depending on the release date for new models. Which of course makes it necessary to check every single vehicle carefully over about a 5-year period prior to purchase.

Where required, vehicles sourced for our customers will be de-gassed in Japan by an authorised company and written proof supplied, at a cost of 10,000 yen (about $120) per vehicle. From now on, this cost will be included in FOB prices and price estimates you see on our Mailing List. Re-gassing of vehicles once in Australia will be required to make the airconditioning work again, and is expected to cost about $150 for most vehicles. However, customers are encouraged to make their own enquiries based on individual circumstances.

Needless to say, the lack of forward notice to industry on this issue has resulted in an unpleasant addition to our workload and an unwelcome complication for customers in progress. It has meant that many vehicles booked and ready to leave Japan over coming weeks have had to be booked on subsequent vessels, causing arrival delays and additional expense in some cases. We are managing this as best we can, so as to minimise the impact on our customers, however delays of up to a month are inevitable for some customers so as to accomodate the new requirements despite the best efforts of suppliers to maintain the intended shipping schedules.

We are aware of many others shipping vehicles at the moment who have decided to ship them as planned and see what happens when they arrive. While there may be some leeway given by Customs in policing the new requirements, we don't feel that this "she'll be right" attitude is a responsible approach to take, and doing so would present an unacceptable risk for customers. We won't know how Customs will handle this issue after 1st April, until we hear what happens to these other importers.

Sadly, we have also heard of some importers who have released the gas to atmosphere in Japan before shipping quite a number of vehicles. Obviously this is extremely detrimental to the environment and will result in active ozone destruction in coming years that could easily have been avoided. This is a shameful outcome primarily in response to the lack of warning about the new regulations which has put importers in a very difficult position.

If you are aware of anyone else considering this approach, please strongly encourage them to do the right thing by having the gas recovered by an authorised contractor.

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Quote: Prestiege Motorsport

- Sorry if this has been posted my another member. :wavey:

[red900ss]

Yeah it sounds like another case of implementing a law prematurely with the result being the opposite effect to the one desired. If the gas is being released to atmosphere then it kind of defeats the purpose.

Wonder if the Greens party would be interested? (yeah right!)

[redline2003]

hmm mite as well make it that we cannot import at all, ive given up on it really, i know ill neva import a car as it wouldnt b worth it anyway, wat with the compliance costs , import tax , gst, insurance, frieght etc and all this was unda the old scheme, now its even worse. best solution would b to live in japan lol

[predator]

pft..one word : gay.. if you like i can go down to the docks in japan and release the valve on all the cars for $5. Thats what's gonna happen. $120.. ba

what a stupid law. what a stupid government. stupidness..

[fatz]

I would like to know where the EPA stands on this ruling????

im sure there is a law for stupidity

if they thing that the Japanese side is going to contain the gas and dispose of the released product in a environmentally friendly way

this is a massive joke (government departments shouldn’t be allowed to think)

pete

[OKBANANA]

Yeah it sounds like another case of implementing a law prematurely with the result being the opposite effect to the one desired. If the gas is being released to atmosphere then it kind of defeats the purpose.

Wonder if the Greens party would be interested? (yeah right!)

Quote: red900ss

If the has is being released to atmosphere then it kind of defeats the purpse.

^^ I believe that it would be released into the atmosphere as it cannot go anywhere else; so in all this law is a waste of time and money.

[red900ss]

Yes it can, the gas can be bled from the system then disposed of as is done here (and Japan if they were doing it by the book).

[red900ss]

lol, ironic that the government won't sign off on the Kyoto protocol...

[davehoos]

company i work for service a/c.truck cars etc.we have some refridgerator trucks imported that we are fixing up to meet the local rules.

the bigger problem is the replacement blend gasses and elcheepo oil that is used by importers.jap spec normally have marginal units that get little servicing and no parts are available..

the same silly things happen here in oz.a local pannel shop buy slightly damaged cars in sydney auctions .all the cars so far have have had the gas removed.so as a tech looking for faults they are not required to indicate that they have done so.

gas is not disposed of here its cleaned and resold.RECLAIM AUSTRALIA.nothing ilegal about using R12.but why bother.

[EVO83]

This is what should happen and what most of the RAWS are passing on to te GOV. is for the docks to set up a proper shed were the cars get taken to and for a charge get the gas removed properly and then refilled. As when the gas is relised into the air in Japan it hurts our ozone layer not theres for some reason. Most RAWS have spoke to ppl that work for green peace and other companys and they have all said it will affect us not them

[davehoos]

spoke to importer today,he been on the phone to those responsible and got very silly replies to questions.

[red900ss]

Just highlights what a ridiculous system it is. I thought it was drained and destroyed, but it's re-sold?!?

Must be OK for the environment the second time round [/sarcasm]

As EVO83 says the hole in the ozone layer is over the antarctic and Oz... so we cop it anyway.

I'm off for a bex and a good lie down. :drool:

[davehoos]

The chat with the importer went along the lines that he had to have documents that were not translated but in [original]english.with stickers on the car"in english" to state that R134A type gasses were in the car/etc.

there were no requirements for the japanese to do this responceable maner.

Its not legal to use r12[other types] in in post mid 1990's products.but as R12 to me is over $100 kg and uses crap mineral oils.compared to R134A $10-15 kg+$40 for synthetic pag oil.

[chaos]

why cant it be like america and sign the bloody free trade agreement already

i'll swap you 4 holdens for an r34