Final answer:
The production and import of new R-22 in the U.S. to service existing systems is banned beginning in 2020.
The production and import of new R-22 in the U.S. to service existing systems is banned starting from 2020, as part of the efforts to protect the ozone layer under the Montreal Protocol.
Step-by-step explanation:
The production and import of new R-22 in the U.S. to service existing systems is banned beginning in 2020.
This action is part of a global effort to phase out ozone-depleting substances as per the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement aimed at protecting the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances known to cause ozone depletion.
Since R-22 is a type of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), it was included in the substances that were to be phased out. Following the phasing out of these harmful substances, the positive impact has been noticeable, and there is optimism that the ozone layer will recover by around 2065 if current trends continue.