--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7671h" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "7671h" heading: "Servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7671h" units: - "Chapter 85 — Air Pollution Prevention and Control" - "Subchapter VI — Stratospheric Ozone Protection" --- # §7671h. Servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners - (a) **Regulations—** Within 1 year after November 15, 1990, the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this section establishing standards and requirements regarding the servicing of [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners. - (b) **Definitions—** As used in this section— - (1) The term “refrigerant” means any class I or [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) used in a [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioner. Effective 5 years after November 15, 1990, the term “refrigerant” shall also include any substitute substance. - (2) - (A) The term “approved refrigerant recycling equipment” means equipment certified by the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) (or an independent standards testing organization approved by the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a)) to meet the standards established by the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) and applicable to equipment for the extraction and reclamation of refrigerant from [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners. Such standards shall, at a minimum, be at least as stringent as the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers in effect as of November 15, 1990, and applicable to such equipment (SAE standard J–1990). - (B) Equipment purchased before the proposal of regulations under this section shall be considered certified if it is substantially identical to equipment certified as provided in [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A). - (3) The term “properly using” means, with respect to approved refrigerant recycling equipment, using such equipment in conformity with standards established by the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) and applicable to the use of such equipment. Such standards shall, at a minimum, be at least as stringent as the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers in effect as of November 15, 1990, and applicable to the use of such equipment (SAE standard J–1989). - (4) The term “properly trained and certified” means training and certification in the proper use of approved refrigerant recycling equipment for [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners in conformity with standards established by the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) and applicable to the performance of service on [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners. Such standards shall, at a minimum, be at least as stringent as specified, as of November 15, 1990, in SAE standard J–1989 under the certification program of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or under a similar program such as the training and certification program of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS). - (c) **Servicing motor vehicle air conditioners—** Effective January 1, 1992, no [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) repairing or servicing [motor vehicles](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) for consideration may perform any service on a [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioner involving the refrigerant for such air conditioner without properly using approved refrigerant recycling equipment and no such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) may perform such service unless such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) has been properly trained and certified. The requirements of the previous sentence shall not apply until January 1, 1993 in the case of a [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) repairing or servicing [motor vehicles](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) for consideration at an entity which performed service on fewer than 100 [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners during calendar year 1990 and if such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) so certifies, pursuant to [subsection (d)(2)](#d-2), to the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) by January 1, 1992. - (d) **Certification—** - (1) Effective 2 years after November 15, 1990, each [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) performing service on [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners for consideration shall certify to the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) either— - (A) that such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) has acquired, and is properly using, approved refrigerant recycling equipment in service on [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners involving refrigerant and that each individual authorized by such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to perform such service is properly trained and certified; or - (B) that such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) is performing such service at an entity which serviced fewer than 100 [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air conditioners in 1991. - (2) Effective January 1, 1993, each [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) who certified under [paragraph (1)(B)](#d-1-B) shall submit a certification under [paragraph (1)(A)](#d-1-A). - (3) Each certification under this subsection shall contain the name and address of the [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) certifying under this subsection and the serial number of each unit of approved recycling equipment acquired by such [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) and shall be signed and attested by the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) or another responsible officer. Certifications under [paragraph (1)(A)](#d-1-A) may be made by submitting the required information to the [Administrator](/usc/42/7602.md?p=a) on a standard form provided by the [manufacturer](/usc/42/7550.md?p=1) of certified refrigerant recycling equipment. - (e) **Small containers of class I or class II substances—** Effective 2 years after November 15, 1990, it shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) to sell or distribute, or offer for sale or distribution, in interstate [commerce](/usc/42/7550.md?p=6) to any [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) (other than a [person](/usc/42/7602.md?p=e) performing service for consideration on [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air-conditioning systems in compliance with this section) any class I or [class II substance](/usc/42/7671.md?p=4) that is suitable for use as a refrigerant in a [motor vehicle](/usc/42/7550.md?p=2) air-conditioning system and that is in a container which contains less than 20 pounds of such refrigerant. ## Source credit (July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title VI, § 609, as added Pub. L. 101–549, title VI, § 602(a), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2662.)