Stephen Yurek, president and CEO, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) responded to what he termed “several inaccuracies” in a Sept. 8, 2012, article in The New York Times on smuggling, primarily from China, of HCFC refrigerant.

A recent wave of published reports focuses on new ways to monitor HCFCs during their phaseout period, HFCs in terms of their long-term potential, and how Canada is dealing with the disposal of unwanted refrigerants.

Federal officials recently announced that defendant Carlos A. Garcia pleaded guilty in connection with the illegal receipt, purchase, and sale of HCFC-22 that had been smuggled into the United States.