As per the notification released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, the production of the ozone-depleting chemical, Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b have been completely phased out by India. Earlier, HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) was adopted by the Ministry to completely phase out the chemical which accounted for the consumption of ozone-depleting chemicals in India to around 50 percent of the total.
HCFC-141 b is one of the most powerful ozone-depleting chemicals after the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is a chemical used in the process of manufacturing production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams, as a blowing agent. The chemical was not produced in the country and after the notification issued by the Environment Ministry on 31st December 2019, the issuance of import license for HCFC-141b is also prohibited from 1st January 2020. Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2019 has prohibited the import license issuance of HCFC-141b, the amendment Act has been issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.