Illegal F-gas trade on EU council agenda
1st March 2019
EUROPE: Illegal refrigerant imports and better enforcement of the European F-gas phase down will be discussed at a meeting of the EU’s Environment Council on Tuesday (March 5).
The European Commission has previously insisted that the illegal imports only involve small quantities of gas, and are not having a “disruptive effect” on the quota system. Many in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry disagree, and insist that the illegal black market is far larger than the EC’s estimates.
The topic has found its way onto the Environment Council agenda after MEPs and industry raised concerns, alleging that “substantial amounts” of HFCs are being imported illegally into the EU, jeopardising the European F-gas phase down’s environmental integrity and hindering fair competition.
Refrigerant supplier Chemours recently claimed the illegal black market was equivalent to 20% of the legal F-gas quota.
The Cooling Post first raised concerns over the illegal activity last year, much of it being imported in illegal disposable cylinders and widely sold over the internet.
The Polish industry group PROZON recently reported that the illegal activity amounted to 40% of the country’s entire F-gas demand, and was costing the Polish exchequer an estimated €7m in lost revenue. This week, the Greek contractors group Hellas Union Fgas has claimed that illegal imports were equal to an incredible 80% of its total F-gas requirement.
While the Commission insists that the extent of the problem can only be assessed after 31 March 2019, when undertakings have reported their imports for 2018, it says it is monitoring the situation “very closely”.
In that respect, the Commission has requested member states to investigate possible cases of illegal trade and impose penalties where needed, as required under the regulation. To identify possible offenders, the Commission has also asked member states for their assistance in comparing customs’ surveillance data with data reported under the regulation.
Recognising the importance of customs involvement in stopping the illegal trade, the EC is also creating an IT application to be made available to custom authorities giving possible automatic alerts on potential illegal trade cases.
The European Commission also insists that it will not hesitate to open infringement procedures in cases where lack of enforcement appears to threaten the success of this policy. The current situation is not known, but at the end of last year, DG Clima told the Cooling Post that there were, at that time, no infringement case linked to the illegal trade in HFCs.
Related stories:
Illegal imports equivalent to 20% of quota – 26 January 2019
GERMANY: A group of German refrigeration experts has called for action after revealing that the amount of illegal refrigerant entering Europe last year was equivalent to 20% of the legal F-gas quota. Read more…
EC gets serious on illegal F-gas trade – 10 December 2018
BELGIUM: The European Commission says it is taking the illegal trade in refrigerants “extremely seriously”, is aware that it could undermine the phase-down, but admits it is uncertain at this time of the amounts involved. Read more…
Illegal imports cost Polish treasury €7m in 2018 – 20 February 2019
POLAND: Illegal refrigerant imports, either smuggled or imported outside of the EU quota system, cost the Polish treasury an estimated €7m in uncollected taxes and customs fees in 2018. Read more…
Poland swamped by illegal refrigerant – 25 July 2018
POLAND: A leading refrigerants organisation has reported a “massive inflow” of illegal HFCs into Poland. Read more…
Industry call to end illegal F-gas sales – 14 November 2018
BELGIUM: European refrigeration and air conditioning contractors have called for action after a survey reveals that nearly 90% of the industry is aware of the illegal trade in refrigerants. Read more…
End this F-gas farce – 9 September 2018
EUROPE: The supposedly ground-breaking European F-gas regulations have become a farce, with the authorities seemingly unwilling or unable to stem sales of illegal refrigerant. Read more…
Dutch warn on illegal refrigerant – 10 October 2018
NETHERLANDS: Refrigerant businesses in the Netherlands have joined the condemnation of the widespread abuse of the F-gas regulations through “alternative” sales outlets. Read more…
Banned R22 openly sold in disposables – 7 September 2018
POLAND: The Cooling Post has found that illegal ozone-depleting R22 refrigerant is being openly sold in illegal disposable cylinders in Poland under the very noses of the authorities. Read more…
