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Seychelles prepares for the 2026 phase-down of R-410A

Importers, contractors, and large end-users should plan for tighter R-410A quotas this year and prepare to migrate to lower-GWP alternatives.

R-410A is one of the most common refrigerants in residential and commercial air-conditioning across Seychelles. It carries no ozone-depletion potential — but its global warming potential is around 2,088 (one tonne of R-410A has the climate impact of ~2,088 tonnes of CO₂). Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, R-410A is being phased down.

Seychelles ratified the Kigali Amendment on 27 May 2019 and operates on the Article 5 schedule for developing countries. As we move through 2026, importers, RAC contractors, and large end-users should:

  1. Apply for permits early — quota allocations tighten each year. See /contact for permit applications.
  2. Plan transitions to lower-GWP alternatives where the application allows: R-32 (residential A/C), R-1234yf (mobile A/C), or hydrocarbon refrigerants such as R-290 for small systems.
  3. Train technicians for new refrigerant handling — flammability classifications differ.
  4. Recover and reclaim existing R-410A under reg 12 of S.I. 24/2000.

The Ozone Unit thanks importers and customs partners for ongoing cooperation, and is available for technical advice on transitions.

Sources: UNEP Ozone Secretariat — Kigali Amendment; Seychelles Nation — "Seychelles prepares for 2026 phase-down of R-410A"; Environment Protection (Ozone) Regulations 2000 (on disk: /downloads?category=Legal).