---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7671d"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7671d"
heading: "Phase-out of production and consumption of class II substances"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7671d"
units:
  - "Chapter 85 — Air Pollution Prevention and Control"
  - "Subchapter VI — Stratospheric Ozone Protection"
---

# §7671d. Phase-out of production and consumption of class II substances

- (a) **Restriction of use of class II substances—** Effective January 1, 2015, it shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to introduce into interstate [commerce](/usc/42/7550.md?p=6) or use any [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) unless such substance—
  - (1) has been used, recovered, and recycled;
  - (2) is used and entirely consumed (except for trace quantities) in the [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) of other chemicals;
  - (3) is used as a refrigerant in [appliances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=1) manufactured prior to January 1, 2020; or
  - (4) is listed as acceptable for use as a fire suppression agent for nonresidential applications in accordance with [section 7671k(c) of this title](/usc/42/7671k.md?p=c).

  As used in this subsection, the term “refrigerant” means any [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) used for heat transfer in a refrigerating system.

- (b) **Production phase-out—**
  - (1) Effective January 1, 2015, it shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to [produce](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) any [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in an annual quantity greater than the quantity of such substance [produced](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) by such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) during the [baseline year](/usc/42/7671.md?p=2).
  - (2) Effective January 1, 2030, it shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to [produce](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) any [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4).
- (c) **Regulations regarding production and consumption of class II substances—** By December 31, 1999, the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) shall promulgate regulations phasing out the [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11), and restricting the use, of [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in accordance with this section, subject to any acceleration of the phase-out of [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) under [section 7671e of this title](/usc/42/7671e.md). The [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) shall also promulgate regulations to insure that the [consumption](/usc/42/7671.md?p=6) of [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in the United States is phased out and terminated in accordance with the same schedule (subject to the same exceptions and other provisions) as is applicable to the phase-out and termination of [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) of [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) under this subchapter.
- (d) **Exceptions—**
  - (1) **Medical devices—**
    - (A) **In general—** Notwithstanding the termination of [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) required under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) and the restriction on use referred to in [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a), after notice and opportunity for public comment, shall, to the extent such action is consistent with the [Montreal Protocol](/usc/42/7671.md?p=9), authorize the [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) and use of limited quantities of [class II substances](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) solely for purposes of use in [medical devices](/usc/42/7671.md?p=8) if such authorization is determined by the [Commissioner](/usc/42/7671.md?p=5), in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a), to be necessary for use in [medical devices](/usc/42/7671.md?p=8).
    - (B) **Cap on exception—** Under no circumstances may the authority set forth in [subparagraph (A)](#d-1-A) be applied to authorize any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to [produce](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) a [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in annual quantities greater than 10 percent of that [produced](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) by such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) during the [baseline year](/usc/42/7671.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Developing countries—**
    - (A) **In general—** Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b), the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a), after notice and opportunity for public comment, may authorize the [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) of limited quantities of a [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in excess of the quantities otherwise permitted under such provisions solely for export to and use in developing countries that are Parties to the [Montreal Protocol](/usc/42/7671.md?p=9), as determined by the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a). Any [production](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) authorized under this subsection shall be solely for purposes of satisfying the basic domestic needs of such countries.
    - (B) **Cap on exception—**
      - (i) Under no circumstances may the authority set forth in [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A) be applied to authorize any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to [produce](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) a [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in any year following the effective date of [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) and before the year 2030 in annual quantities greater than 110 percent of the quantity of such substance [produced](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) by such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) during the [baseline year](/usc/42/7671.md?p=2).
      - (ii) Under no circumstances may the authority set forth in [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A) be applied to authorize any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to [produce](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) a [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) in the year 2030, or any year thereafter, in an annual quantity greater than 15 percent of the quantity of such substance [produced](/usc/42/7671.md?p=11) by such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) during the [baseline year](/usc/42/7671.md?p=2).
      - (iii) Each exception authorized under this paragraph shall terminate no later than January 1, 2040.

## Source credit

(July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title VI, § 605, as added Pub. L. 101–549, title VI, § 602(a), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2658; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title III, § 320, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1361.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2011—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 112–81 added par. (4).