China MEE Notice No. 27 of 2025: HFC ban in household refrigerators from 1 January 2026 and the correct IEC safety-standard families

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued Notice No. 27 of 2025, which prohibits the production of household refrigerators and freezers using HFC refrigerants effective 1 January 2026. The published scope is anchored to GB/T 8059-2016 and explicitly includes household units manufactured for export. Vehicle refrigerators are excluded from the ban. The notice does not extend to every commercial refrigeration product, nor does it require R290 in all equipment.

Applicable safety-standard families

A previously published article in this outlet incorrectly identified IEC 60335-2-40 as the household-refrigerator safety standard. IEC's official catalogue designates IEC 60335-2-24:2025 as the standard covering household and similar refrigerating appliances, including compression appliances that use flammable refrigerants. Commercial refrigerating appliances fall under IEC 60335-2-89. Which edition applies, how a given country has adopted the standard, and the specific construction of the equipment all remain relevant to compliance.

Charge limits and engineering implications

Unverified blanket charge limits of 150 g and 500 g that appeared in earlier coverage have been removed. No universal refrigerant-charge allowance is established by this notice. Transitioning to a flammable refrigerant is not a matter of simply substituting one fluid for another; it requires equipment-specific engineering and compliance with the applicable safety and manufacturing requirements.

Sources: MEE official final notice, IEC 60335-2-24:2025 scope.