Contrary to previous Natural Resources Canada forecasts to harmonize with the U.S. implementation date, the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) recently received confirmation from NRCan that the proposed regulation is expected to be pre-published in the Canada Gazette in December 2005 followed by a 75-day comment period. This means that Canada would have this regulation in place by April 2006.

The U.S. Department of Energy will be notifying U.S. Customs that residential central air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured prior to Jan. 23, 2006 with a SEER rating less than 13 SEER will not be allowed to be imported into the U.S. after Jan. 23.