Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (May 13, 1994)

2-(4) Harmonization with U.S. Standards Concerning Refrigerant Recovery Equipment and Approval of Use of Alternative Refrigerants

1. Complainant: Embassy of the United States

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Construction

3. Complaint:

The complainant has raised the following issues.

(1) Testing procedures for refrigerant recovery equipment should be simplified and harmonized with standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

(2) A directive was issued in October 1992 by the Department recommending that absorption chillers should be used instead of centrifugal chillers for the construction ordered by Government Building Department of Ministry of Construction to eliminate CFC pollution. However, since it is now possible for the United States to supply centrifugal equipment using alternate refrigerants HCFC 123 and HFC134a, developed through new technology free from CFC pollution, Japan should amend its directive to make these eligible for the construction ordered by Government Building Department of Ministry of Construction.

4. Results of deliberation:

(1) Regarding duplication of U.S. and Japanese standards for refrigerant recovery equipment, since the Department has recognized that it would he useful to exempt inspection items overlapped between U.S. and Japan, it is intending to examine after specific proposal from the complainant. The complainant is also prepared to cooperate, and both sides should cooperate to make progress in introducing foreign testing results.

Regarding harmonization of the two countries' standards, discussions between the two sides should continue.

(2) Regarding the use of alternate refrigerants in the construction ordered by Government Building Department of Ministry of Construction, a directive was issued by the Department in April 1994 approving the use of HFC134a, which has an ozone depletion factor of 0, and this is a positive step.

Regarding HCFC123, however, since its ozone depletion factor is not 0, the Department has not included it in the construction ordered by Government Building Department of Ministry of Construction, and efforts are being made to gain the understanding of the complainant regarding this step.

Government decision (June 24, 1994)

2-(4) Improvement of standards concealing refrigerating equipment

Regarding duplication of U.S. and Japanese standards for refrigerant recovery equipment after U.S. investigation results and specific proposals based on those results which we requested at the end of May 1994 are given, we will examine the matter of accepting U.S. test results soon.

Regarding the use of alternate refrigerants the construction ordered by Government Building Department of Ministry of construction, an amended directive was issued which makes centrifugal refrigerating equipment using a refrigerant with an ozone depletion factor of O (HFC134a) eligible for use in the construction ordered by the Department fiscal year.

Follow-up (June 5, 1995)

2-(4) Harmonization With U.S. Standards Concerning Refrigerant Recovery Equipment and Approval of Use of Alternative Refrigerants

Documentation on Japanese standards and testing methods for refrigerant recovery equipment was shown to the U.S. (American Refrigeration Institute (ARI)) in April 1994. Additional explanations, on specific testing methods, etc., were provided when ARI officials came to Japan in October 1994.

After the U.S. makes a proposal on testing items in the two countries which overlap and which can probably be eliminated, the ministries concerned will study whether U.S. testing data can be accepted.

The situation concerning the use of alternative refrigerants in government procurement was also explained to ARI officials during their visit, and their understanding was solicited.