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Climate Action

EU-Rules

Guidance on the EU's F-gas Regulation and its legal framework

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. 

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