F-gas regulation
THE REVISED EU F-GAS REGULATION HAS APPLIED SINCE 11 MARCH 2024
Stricter requirements, a faster HFC phase-down and new restrictions on fluorinated refrigerants
Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases was replaced by Regulation (EU) 2024/573, which was adopted on 7 February 2024, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20 February 2024 and has applied since 11 March 2024.
The revised F-gas Regulation further strengthens the EU framework for reducing emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases. It applies to fluorinated greenhouse gases listed in Annexes I, II and III of the Regulation as well as to products and equipment containing these gases or whose functioning relies upon them.
The Regulation introduces a number of key measures to further reduce F-gas emissions:
- Phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs):
The HFC quota system provides for a significantly steeper reduction in the quantities that may be placed on the EU market. HFC consumption is to be phased out in the EU by 2050. - Additional prohibitions and restrictions:
Further restrictions on the placing on the market and use of products and equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases apply where suitable alternatives are available. The Regulation includes specific phase-out dates for various refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump applications. - Stricter requirements to prevent emissions:
The Regulation strengthens requirements relating to leak prevention and leak checks, servicing, recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of refrigerants. It also extends requirements concerning certification, labelling, reporting and monitoring.
One of the key objectives of the revised F-gas Regulation is to accelerate the transition towards climate-friendly alternatives to fluorinated refrigerants. For refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump applications, the European Commission explicitly identifies non-fluorinated refrigerants – often referred to as natural refrigerants – such as propane (R290), CO₂ (R744) and ammonia (R717) as relevant alternatives.
