Recognising the need for enhanced climate action in light of the European Climate Law, better alignment with the Montreal Protocol and stronger enforcement, the Commission thoroughly reviewed the 2014 F-gas Regulation
In April 2022, the European Commission provided the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union with its proposal. The new F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 was adopted on 7 February 2024, and started to apply on 11 March 2024.
It builds on the former F-gas Regulation, that was already successful in reducing emissions. Nevertheless, to meet the EU’s 2030 objective and reach climate neutrality by 2050, we aim to phase out the use of F-gases in the EU.
Here are some of the key measures the Regulation entails to meet that goal:
- Reducing the amount of hydrofluorocarbons on the market
For the most common F-gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the quota system generates a steeper reduction in the amounts that importers and producers may place on the EU market, and in 2050 HFCs will be phased out in the EU.
- Integrating HFCs used in metered dose inhalers into the quota system
HFCs used in metered dose inhalers are being integrated into the quota system. Additional prohibitions on F-gas equipment, products and use of F-gases will apply in the future.
- Stricter rules to prevent emissions
The Regulation has stricter rules to prevent emissions where F-gases are being produced or used already, e.g. by including more types of equipment and gases under the scope of measures that prevent leakage during transportation, installation, servicing and disposal of equipment and products.
- Facilitating better enforcement and monitoring
The control over the policy will significantly improve, for instance through more digitalisation and eletronic automation of custom control. This will allow enhanced enforcement in the Member States and combat illegal trade.
- Capping EU production of HFCs and allocation of production rights to producers
The Regulation initiates a phased reduction in the production of HFCs within the EU. Commencing in 2025, companies will be granted production rights equivalent to 60% of their average annual production from 2011 to 2013. This rate will reduce over time: in 2036, companies will be granted 15%.
What is the HFC quota system?
With a view to controlling and reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are the most important F-gases in terms of use and emissions, the European Commission established a quota system in 2015 to limit the amount of HFCs placed on the EU market. A maximum amount of HFCs that can be placed on the market is set per calendar year and is gradually reduced over time, ending at zero in 2050.
The Commission is dividing the maximum amount into individual quotas allocated to importers and EU producers based on a method prescribed in the Regulation. Importers and producers that place HFCs on the EU market must hold sufficient quotas to do so. By 31 December each year, the European Commission allocates quotas to companies for the subsequent year.
Refrigeration, air-conditioners, heat pumps and metered dose inhalers pre-charged with HFCs also fall under the quota system. When placing them on the market, importers and EU manufacturers of such equipment need to ensure that the amount of HFCs is accounted for under the quota system, and they must complete a “declaration of conformity” stating how this was ensured. However, they cannot use the quota allocated by the Commission for this purpose.
Instead, importers are required to, for example, acquire ‘authorisations’ to use quota from a quota holder equivalent to the quantity of HFCs contained within the imported equipment.
- 23/02/2024 - C/2024/857 - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/586 of 16 February 2024 amending and correcting Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2432 as regards the determination of reference values for certain producers and importers for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
- 10/11/2023 - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2432 of 26 October 2023 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, reference values for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 for each producer or importer
- 18/06/2021 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/980 of 17 June 2021 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/661 as regards information requirements for registration in the electronic registry for quotas for placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market (Text with EEA relevance)
- 16/03/2021 - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/456 of 12 March 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1604 as regards the determination of reference values for certain importers and producers for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 202
- 03/11/2020 - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1604 of 23 October 2020 determining, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, reference values for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023 for each producer or importer which has lawfully placed hydrofluorocarbons on the market in the Union from 1 January 2015, as reported under that Regulation
- 25/04/2019 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/661 of 25 April 2019 ensuring the smooth functioning of the electronic registry for quotas for placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market
- 28/03/2019 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/522 of 27 March 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1191/2014 as regards the reporting of data on production and on imports and exports of polyols containing hydrofluorocarbons pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014
- 19/12/2018 - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2023 of 17 December 2018 on amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1984 determining, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, reference values as regards reference values for the period from 30 March 2019 to 31 December 2020 for producers or importers established within the United Kingdom, which have lawfully placed on the market hydrofluorocarbons from 1 January 2015, as reported under that Regulation
- 17/12/2018 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1992 of 14 December 2018 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1191/2014 as regards the reporting of data referred to in Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 in respect of hydrofluorocarbons placed on the market in the United Kingdom and in the Union of 27 Member States
- 01/11/2017 - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1984 of 24 October 2017 determining, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, reference values for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 for each producer or importer which has lawfully placed on the market hydrofluorocarbons from 1 January 2015 as reported under that Regulation (notified under document C(2017) 7080)
- 26/07/2017 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1375 of 25 July 2017 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1191/2014 determining the format and means for submitting the report referred to in Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 02/06/2016 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/879 of 2 June 2016 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, detailed arrangements relating to the declaration of conformity when placing refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment charged with hydrofluorocarbons on the market and its verification by an independent auditor
- 17/11/2015 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2068 of 17 November 2015 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the format of labels for products and equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 17/11/2015 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2067 of 17 November 2015 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, minimum requirements and the conditions for mutual recognition for the certification of natural persons as regards stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, and refrigeration units of refrigerated trucks and trailers, containing fluorinated greenhouse gases and for the certification of companies as regards stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, containing fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 17/11/2015 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2066 of 17 November 2015 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, minimum requirements and the conditions for mutual recognition for the certification of natural persons carrying out installation, servicing, maintenance, repair or decommissioning of electrical switchgear containing fluorinated greenhouse gases or recovery of fluorinated greenhouse gases from stationary electrical switchgear
- 17/11/2015 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2065 of 17 November 2015 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the format for notification of the training and certification programmes of the Member States
- 05/11/2014 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1191/2014 of 30 October 2014 determining the format and means for submitting the report referred to in Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 31/10/2014 - Commission Implementing Decision determining, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, reference values for the period 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017 for each producer or importer who has reported placing on the market hydrofluorocarbons under Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council
To ensure a smooth transition from the old regime to the new regime, Commission Regulations (EC) 1497/2007, (EC) No 1516/2007, (EC) No 304/2008, (EC) No 306/2008 and (EC) No 307/2008 remain in force and continue to apply unless and until repealed by delegated or implementing acts adopted by the Commission pursuant to the 2014 F-gas Regulation.
- 02/04/2008 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 304/2008 of 2 April 2008 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, minimum requirements and the conditions for mutual recognition for the certification of companies and personnel as regards stationary fire protection systems and fire extinguishers containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 02/04/2008 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 306/2008 of 2 April 2008 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, minimum requirements and the conditions for mutual recognition for the certification of personnel recovering certain fluorinated greenhouse gas-based solvents from equipment
- 02/04/2008 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 307/2008 of 2 April 2008 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, minimum requirements for training programmes and the conditions for mutual recognition of training attestations for personnel as regards air-conditioning systems in certain motor vehicles containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 18/12/2007 - Commission Regulation (EC) No 1497/2007 of 18 December 2007 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, standard leakage checking requirements for stationary fire protection systems containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 17/12/2007 - Commission Regulation EC) No 1516/2007 of 19 December 2007 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, standard leakage checking requirements for stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
- F-Gas Contact Points of the Member States
- Tool: GWP Metric Conversion
- Guidance: Imports of pre-charged equipment
- Discussion Paper: Verification by Auditors
- Independent verification for HFC equipment importers in line with obligations under the F-gas Regulation
- Independent Verification for HFC bulk importers/producers in line with obligations under the F-gas Regulation
- F-Gas Portal: Registering an Undertaking
- F-Gas Portal: Finding Company ID, Changes to Company and Contact Persons, Registering Multiple Companies
- F-Gas Portal: Submitting a Quota Declaration (For Bulk Gas Importers)
- F-Gas Portal: Transferring Quota
- F-Gas Portal: Providing or Accepting an Authorization (Relevant for Equipment Imports)
- F-Gas Portal: Delegating an Authorization
- F-Gas Portal: Changes to EU-Login User Details
- Information on Reporting on F-Gases and the BDR (Business Data Repository)
- Guidance: Info for Technicians and End Users of charged HVAC Equipment
- Brochure: Info for technicians working with equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases
- Discussion Paper on HFC-23 by-production
- Commission proposal on fluorinated greenhouse gases
- Press release: “Commission proposes new rules on fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances”
- Memo for press “Commission proposals on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone depleting substances (ODS)”
- Press release: Commission welcomes agreement on new legislation to prevent 500 million tonnes of emissions from fluorinated gases and ozone depleting substances
- Factsheet on F-Gases and ODS
- The Impact Assessment Staff Working Document
- Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Staff Working Document
- F-gases external preparatory study
- Annexes to F-gases external preparatory study
- F-gas evaluation report
- F-gas evaluation annexes
- Consultation strategy
- Open public consultation
- Presentation at stakeholders consultation workshop
- Background paper for the stakeholder conference
- 14/09/2017 - Council Decision (EU) 2017/1541 - Conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer
- 14/09/2017 - Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer
- 16/04/2014 - Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006
- 07/11/2012 - COM(2012) 643 - Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 07/11/2012 - IP/12/1180: Climate action: Commission proposes significant reduction in emissions of climate-warming fluorinated gases
- 07/11/2012 - MEMO/12/840: Questions and Answers on the Commission proposal to reduce emissions of climate-warming fluorinated gases
- 07/11/2012 - SWD(2012) 363 - Executive summary of the impact assessment review of regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
- 07/11/2012 - SWD(2012) 364 - Impact assessment review of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases
- Citizens' summary: Reducing emissions of climate-warming fluorinated gases
- 26/09/2011 - COM (2011) 581 - Report from the Commission on the application, effects and adequacy of the Regulation on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (Regulation (EC) No 842/2006)
- Report assessing the 2022 requirement to avoid highly global warming Hydrofluorocarbons in some commercial refrigeration systems
- Report assessing the quota allocation method in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 517/2014
- Barriers posed by codes, standards and legislation to using climate-friendly technologies
- Availability of training for service personnel regarding the safe handling of climate-friendly technologies
2019
2013
- SKM, Possible Bans for New Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment
- SKM, Possible Bans for Aerosols and Foams
- Clodic et al., Alternatives to high GWP HFCs In Refrigeration and Air conditioning applications
2012
2009
- Study on the potential application of Art. 3 and 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases to air conditioning and refrigeration systems contained in different transport modes
- Analysis on the Recovery of EU legislation to control F-gases in EU-27 in the Period 2004-2007 and Determination of Options for Further Progress
- The analysis of the emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases from refrigeration and air conditioning equipment used in the transport sector other than road transport and options for reducing these emissions: Maritime, Rail, and Aircraft Sector
- Establishment of Leakage Rates of Mobile Air Conditioners in Heavy Duty Vehicles. Part 1: Trucks
- Establishment of Leakage Rates of Mobile Air Conditioners in Heavy Duty Vehicles. Part 2: Buses and Coaches
- Methodology to establish leakage rates of Mobile Air Conditioners in commercial vehicles (Trucks and Buses)
- Costs and the impact on emissions of potential regulatory framework for reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride
- Assessment of the costs & implication on emissions of potential regulatory frameworks for reducing emissions of HFCs, PFCs & SF6
- Establishing the Leakage rates of Mobile Air Conditioners
- Analysis of the economic and environmental consequences of a phase out or considerable reduction leakage of mobile air conditionersAnnex: Analysis of scientific literature