According to the EPA’s memo (2012 to 2014 Allocation Overview Memo), the EPA will continue to use the same HCFC-22 baseline as established in the 2011 Interim Final Rule. The Final 2012 – 2014 Allocation Rule will provide fewer HCFC-22 consumption allowances relative to the 2009 Final Rule and the same percentage of baseline for HCFC-22 production allowances relative to the 2009 Final Rule.
A pre-publication copy of the rule can be found here –2012-2014 Pre-Publication HCFC Allocation Rule
The ACR News website (www.acr-news.com) reported that a judicial settlement was reached agains Quzhouzhou Fuming Co of Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. ACR News reports, “A raid action in late September 2011 resulted in seizure of 1,500 empty refrigerant cylinders with Suva and Freon packaging, 1,000 counterfeit labels and 1,000 counterfeit DuPont Freon R22 cylinders.” The settlement against Quzhouzhou Fuming Co. includes:
-$39,400 payment to the Chinese government
-$32,000 payment to DuPont
-Permanent injunction preventing their sale of DuPon refrigerants
-Discontinue use of DuPont trademarks
-Formal written apology to appear in two Chinese newspapers
Click Here for full article from December 19 2012.
In HARDI’s December 21st E-Newsletter update entitled “HARDI Advocacy Advisory”, HARDI suggests that “Distributors should prepare for both another delay in the issuance of “no action assurance” letters by the EPA and a further reduction in the amount of R-22 which will be allocated. In 2012, approximately 55 million pounds of R-22 were allowed for production/importation in the United States and it is the recommendation of HARDI that distributors plan for another significant reduction in R-22 availability, likely to 45 million pounds nationally in 2013.”
“The patent is revoked under Article 101(2) EPC as at least one of the grounds of oppositions prejudices its maintenance unamended, and under Article 101(3) (b) EPC because taking into account the amendments made by the proprietor during the opposition proceedings, the patent and the invention to which it relates do no meet the requirements of the EPC.”
(European Patent Convention)
