A DEFRA announcement has advised industry of the new agreement on proposed changes to the EU F Gas Regulations as follows “The amended Commission proposal strengthens the existing measures set out in the EC F gas Regulation (Regulation 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases) relating to the containment of F gases through recovery, leak reduction and repair, in addition to minimum training and certification requirements for companies and personnel working with equipment containing F gases.
The most important new measure proposed is a phase down in the supply of HFCs to be managed by a freeze in supply in 2015 followed by a series of reduction steps commencing in 2016. The objective is by 2030 to have reached a level of supply of 21% of the annual average of the total quantity of HFCs produced.
The phase down will be supported by a number of product and equipment bans where it has been demonstrated that suitable alternatives already exist or will exist by the time the respective bans enter into force. Furthermore, there are provisions that prohibit the use of F gases with a global warming potential (GWP) of 2500 or more to service and maintain certain refrigeration equipment. However, the use of reclaimed and recycled F gases with a GWP above 2500 is allowed until 1 January 2030.
Dates and a timetable have yet to be agreed for making progress in 2014. However, we would hope that formal agreement and publication of a new EU Regulation would be complete before the end of June. European Commission Implementing Regulations would be also need to be negotiated in 2014 and the Regulation is at present expected to enter into force in January 2015.”
