Czech Republic first EU state to adopt F-Gas verification system
EFCTC says it now expects other EU countries to start using EU Single Window Environment for Customs to share vital information on refrigerant imports and F-Gas quotas.
The Czech Republic has become the first EU country to begin using a system that can automatically verify the legal status of F-Gas imports.
Other member states are now expected to follow in adopting the EU Single Window Environment for Customs that will be able to overhaul monitoring of refrigerants in line with current and future F-Gas regulations. The EU has developed the single window to allow customs officials to share electronic information provided by traders.
The European FluoroCarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC) said that it could also be used to confirm if importers are legally registered to receive refrigerant, as well as checking if they are complying with the F-Gas quota system.
EFCTC Chair Dr Nick Campbell said the adoption of the system by an EU member state was a big step forward in efforts to combat smuggling of HFC refrigerant.
He said, “Illegal imports of HFCs have serious economic and environmental effects. The sooner other EU countries can join the EU Single Window Environment for Customs, the faster such illegal trade can be stopped.”
The Illegal trade of HFC refrigerants has been identified as a significant issue by the cooling industry and environmental campaigners that risks undermining the F-Gas regulations and its quota system. These quotas, which are set to be gradually tightened over the present decade, are intended to gradually encourage the RACHP sector to move to lower GWP products.
A report published last year by the Environmental Investigations Agency estimated that the black market for refrigerant could be equivalent to a quarter of all recorded legal sales.
The EFCTC said the F-Gas quota system, which is currently being reviewed by European authorities, is intended to promote adoption of systems that can efficiently make use of lower GWP refrigerants.
It stated, “As a result of the quota system, the quantity of available HFCs in the EU will be significantly reduced progressively by 2030. The unintended consequence of this significant phase down is the creation of a black market for illegal imports and the illegal trafficking of HFCs in the EU.”
Black market focus
Adoption of the single window is also expected to support other initiatives introduced by groups such as the EFCTC to try and better monitor and address illegal refrigerant.
These initiatives include the launch of European Action Line service in 2019 as a means to report concerns about possible illegal trade that could then be followed by an investigation agency hired by the EFCTC. Over 300 reports have been received through the action line since it was launched.
Updates to the service have included the option to now record voice messages through the service. It can also now translate messages into 70 languages.
The EFCTC said the updates were intended to ensure a wider number of individuals could report issues around refrigerant trade.
The organisation stated, “The Action Line enables market participants and other stakeholders to report suspicious activities, such as: importing or trading illegal or banned products, use of non-refillable cylinders, importing without quota, regulatory breaches, and counterfeiting.”