On December 9, 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued two announcements prohibiting the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) products in specific sectors, in accordance with the Regulation on the Administration of Ozone Depleting Substances and the national HCFC phase-out management plan for the cleaning industry. This move aims to fulfill China’s obligations under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, phase out ozone-depleting substances, promote the shift toward low-carbon and environmentally friendly technologies, and facilitate industrial transformation and upgrading.
Background
Since joining the Montreal Protocol in 1991, China has continuously advanced the phase-out and substitution of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in controlled uses. It has successfully completed the phase-out of five major categories of ODS, including CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, and methyl bromide, and is now accelerating the phase-out of HCFCs.
Announcement on Prohibiting the Use of HCFCs as Cleaning Agents
- Effective Date: Starting July 1, 2026, the use of HCFCs or mixtures containing HCFCs as cleaning agents will be prohibited. The production of disposable medical devices shall comply with the earlier announcement titled Announcement on Prohibiting the Production of Disposable Medical Devices Using HCFCs as Silicone Oil Diluents or Cleaning Agents (Ministry of Ecology and Environment Announcement No. 29, 2023).
- Scope of Control: The cleaning agents referred to in this announcement are defined according to the national standard Limits for Volatile Organic Compounds Content in Cleaning Agents (GB 38508-2020). They refer to liquid chemicals or preparations used in industrial production and service activities to remove contaminants—such as grease, paint, ink, adhesive residues, carbon deposits, and dust—from the surfaces of equipment, devices, facilities, or products through principles including chemical dissolution, complexation, emulsification, wetting, penetration, dispersion, solubilization, and stripping.
The cleaning industry is one of the major consumers of HCFCs in China, using them as solvents or cleaning agents across four sub-sectors: disposable medical devices, metal cleaning, electronics cleaning, and solvent formulation. In August 2023, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an announcement prohibiting the production of disposable medical devices using HCFCs as cleaning agents or silicone oil diluents, achieving a complete phase-out of HCFCs in that sub-sector. Currently, the use of HCFCs in the metal and electronics sub-sectors accounts for less than 10% of the total phase-out volume in their respective areas, while in the solvent formulation sub-sector, HCFC usage represents less than half of its total phase-out volume. Alternative technologies are well-established in the industry. Substitutes such as hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, and fluorinated olefins have been successfully applied in the cleaning sector for years with sufficient supply and full technical feasibility. The cost of substitution is manageable, and relevant enterprises can select suitable alternative cleaning agents based on product performance requirements and economic affordability.
This announcement represents a proactive step in advancing the phase-out of ODS and achieving national compliance objectives. It holds significant importance for promoting green, low-carbon, and high-quality development in related industries. Ecological and environmental authorities at all levels shall urge enterprises to strictly implement the above provisions and ensure the effective phase-out of HCFCs in the cleaning industry. Enterprises that violate these regulations by using HCFCs will be penalized by ecological and environmental authorities in collaboration with relevant departments in accordance with the law.
Further Information
