VASA, with input from the automotive industry and support from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), is updating the Australian Automotive Code of Practice: Control of refrigerant gases during manufacture, installation, servicing or de-commissioning of motor vehicle air conditioners (the Code).
Having received good feedback to date and in the interest of ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard, the public and industry review period (originally scheduled to end on 8 December 2025) has been extended by VASA to 5.00pm AEDT on Wednesday December 31, 2025.
The aim of the Australian Automotive Air Conditioning Code of Practice is to minimise the emission of fluorocarbon refrigerants to the atmosphere from Australian automotive refrigerant-containing systems.
It covers vehicle fitting, servicing, repair, disassembly, reassembly, commissioning, decommissioning and refrigerant recovery.
Compliance is mandatory for anyone holding a Refrigerant Handling Licence or Refrigerant Trading Authorisation through the Australian Refrigeration Council.
Originally published in 1997 with a revision in 2008, VASA says the Code required a comprehensive update to reflect current standards, regulations, safety practices, contemporary refrigerants and associated technology.
The draft available for public comment reflects these updates and addresses the challenges of the multi-refrigerant marketplace with the introduction of new refrigerants.
This Code relates to all automotive systems and sub-systems that make use of a refrigerant, including HVAC systems and systems used to assist in the thermal management of components and vehicle sub-systems such as battery systems in hybrid and electric vehicles.
It covers passenger cars (including hybrid and electric vehicles), forward control passenger vehicles, off-road passenger vehicles, registerable commercial vehicles and omnibuses, and vehicles at end of life.
The draft Code is downloadable from here and open for public and industry review until 5.00pm AEDT on Wednesday December 31, 2025.
Comments are invited on the technical content, wording and general arrangement of the draft Code of Practice.
To view the code and submit your comments by 5.00pm AEDT on Wednesday December 31, visit here.