Essential Uses of CFCs for Metered-Dose Inhalers

Each year EPA publishes a notice requesting applications from companieswho seek allowances to produce or import CFCs for use as propellant inmetered-dose inhalers, which is considered an essential use. The notice ispublished over a year in advance of when the actual allocations are made, inorder to allow time for the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to review theU.S. nomination. Once the Parties have reviewed the U.S. nomination andapproved a particular year’s allocations, EPA allocates essential useallowances to individual companies through its notice-and-comment rulemakingprocess. The total allocation for a particular year may not exceed the amountthe Parties have authorized for that year. The allowances permit companiesto produce or import newly manufactured CFCs specifically for the essentialuses designated in the final rule.

Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) propelled by ozone-depleting CFCs are beinggradually and cautiously phased out. Additionalinformation on the transition to ozone-safe MDIs can be found here.

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Regulations and Federal Register Notices

Essential Use Allocation – 2010

Request for applications - 2010 (December 3, 2007; 72 FR 67930): PDF version (3 pp, 85 kb)

Essential Use Allocation – 2009

Request for applications - 2009 (December 5, 2006; 71 FR 70512): PDF version (3 pp, 90 kb)

Essential Use Allocation –2008

Final rule - 2008 (June 11, 2008; 73 FR 33007): PDF version (7 pp, 127 kb); Fact sheet on 2008 final rule
Proposed rule - 2008 (June 12, 2007; 72 FR 32269): PDF version (7 pp, 135 kb)
Request for applications - 2008 (November 21, 2005; 70 FR 70071): PDF version (3 pp, 82 kb)

Essential Use Allocation – 2007

Final rule - 2007 (June 12, 2007; 72 FR 32212): Fact sheet on 2007 final rule
Proposed rule - 2007 (November 3, 2006; 71 FR 64669)
Request for applications - 2007 (October 6, 2004; 69 FR 59918)

Essential Use Allocation – 2006

Final rule - 2006 (October 4, 2006; 71 FR 58504): Fact sheet on 2006 final rule
Proposed rule - 2006 (April 11, 2006; 71 FR 18262)
Transcript of April 21, 2006 Public Meeting on 2006 Allocation of Essential Uses
Request for applications – 2006 (October 14, 2003; 68 FR 59170)

Essential Use Allocation – 2005

Final rule - 2005 (August 24, 2005; 70 FR 49836): Fact sheet on 2005 final rule
Proposed rule - 2005 (December 22, 2004; 69 FR 76655)
Request for applications - 2005 (October 14, 2003; 68 FR 59170)

Essential Use Allocation – 2004

Final Rule - 2004 (January 28, 2004; 69 FR 4059)
Proposed rule - 2004 (October 28, 2003; 68 FR 61382)
Request for applications - 2004 (November 6, 2001; 66 FR 56102)

Essential Use Allocation – 2003

Final rule - 2003 (December 27, 2002; 67 FR 79508)

Essential Use Allocation – 2002

Final rule - 2002 (February 11, 2002; 67 FR 6352)

Essential Use Allocation – 2001

Final rule - 2001 (January 8, 2001; 66 FR 1462)

Essential Use Allocation – 2000

Final rule - 2000 (June 30, 2000; 65 FR 40524)