--- title: EIA Report Highlights Trade in Illegal Refrigerants description: The EIA has published a report outlining the illegal use and trade of hydrofluorocarbon products in the EU as a result of F-Gas quotas. Read more here. image: https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/sunset-2860039_1920.jpg --- [![](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/wp-content/themes/compliancerisk/inc/img/general/compliancelogo.svg)](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/) - Products Products - - [C2P](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/c2p-compliance-knowledge-management-platform/) - [Regulations Management](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/conquering-the-regulatory-avalanche/) - [Standards Management](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/standards/) - [Requirements Management](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/heres-the-regulation-whats-next/) - [Regulatory Topics](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/regulated-areas/) - [WFSGI Compliant Labelling Requirements Database](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/WFSGI/) - Services Services - [Market Access Service](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/grow-in-new-markets/) - [Regulatory Process Consulting](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/best-practices-in-compliance-processes/) - [Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S)](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/ehs-and-your-legal-registers/) - [Managed Services](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/solutions-for-every-day/) - [Training and Systems Implementation](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/training-and-systems-implementation/) - [Ask Our Experts](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/your-compliance-question) - Resources News & Resources - [Blog](https://blog.complianceandrisks.com/news-resources?__hstc=67571022.c37393069837d66fdddfdab74b5ad3c6.1593078357468.1593078357468.1593078357468.1&__hssc=67571022.1.1593078357469&__hsfp=693435645) - [Commentary & Analysis](https://blog.complianceandrisks.com/commentary-analysis?__hstc=67571022.c37393069837d66fdddfdab74b5ad3c6.1593078357468.1593078357468.1593078357468.1&__hssc=67571022.1.1593078357469&__hsfp=693435645) - [COVID-19](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/covid-19/) - [Webinars](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/webinars/) - [White Papers & eBooks](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/whitepapers/) - [About](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/about/) Compliance & Risks - [About Us](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/about/) - [Industries](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/compliance-requirements-industries/) - [History](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/compliance-and-risks-history/) - [Careers](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/compliance-risks-careers/) - [Knowledge Partners](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/knowledge-partners/) - [Partners & Affiliates](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/becoming-a-compliance-risks-partner/) - [Get in touch](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/contact/) COVID-19 Regulatory Developments [Find Out More](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/covid-19/) - [Book a demo](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/book-a-demo/) - [Eng](https://complianceandrisks.com) - [日本語](http://complianceandrisks.jp/) ![](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/wp-content/themes/compliancerisk/inc/img/general/burger.svg) Search for: # EIA Report Highlights Trade in Illegal Refrigerants --- ##### 11 April 2019 ![sunset-2860039\_1920](https://go.adherent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sunset-2860039_1920.jpg?width=280&name=sunset-2860039_1920.jpg)The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) recently published a report entitled [Doors Wide Open - Europe’s flourishing illegal trade in hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)](https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-report-Doors-wide-open.pdf). The report outlines a decline in the supply of HFC products in the EU as a result of the imposition of F-Gas quotas, resulting in a substantial increase in illegal use and trade in HFCs and HFC products. HFCs were introduced as replacements for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), which are being phased out by the Montreal Protocol due to their impact on the ozone layer. Whilst HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, they are nonetheless potent greenhouse gases, with global warming potentials (GWP). The EU F-Gas Regulation was introduced in 2014 providing for an economy-wide phase-down in HFC supply and a number of bans on HFC use in certain equipment and products. According to the EIA reports, illegal trade and use of HFCs is prevalent and is undermining the F-gas Regulation, resulting in additional HFC emissions. Continued availability of HFCs outside the HFC phase-down schedule is also hindering the uptake of climate-friendly technologies and may ultimately threaten the success of the F-gas Regulation. There is therefore an urgent need for the EU Commission, and all individual EU Member States, to improve enforcement of the F-gas Regulation and implement additional measures to accelerate the transition to HFC alternatives. The report makes several recommendations, including: - Implementation of a fully functional per shipment HFC licensing system which allows customs officials to obtain real-time information to determine if HFC imports are within the specified quota for a particular company - Improve reporting and monitoring of HFC trade with exporting countries - Increase transparency of the HFC Registry such that details of new entrants and data on quotas allocated to individual companies are publicly available - Revise the ban on non-refillable cylinders to prohibit the use of all disposable cylinders - Remove the exemption from the phase-down under Article 15(2) for producers or importers of less than 100 tCO2 e of HFCs per year. **To find out how you can stay on top of regulations relating to [climate change](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/solutions/regulated-areas/#climatechange), why don't you [talk to us](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/talk-to-us/) today?**   ![Picture of Compliance & Risks](https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/Blue%20C%20logo%20on%20its%20own%20250-213769-edited.jpg) ### Written by [Compliance & Risks](https://go.adherent.com/news-resources/author/compliance-risks) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/complianceandrisks/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/compliance-and-risks/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ComplianceRisks) - - - - ## Featured Posts --- ![Stacey Bowers to Present at ICPHSO 2022 Annual Meeting & Training Symposium](https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/icphso%202022%20(1).png) [Stacey Bowers to Present at ICPHSO 2022 Annual Meeting & Training Symposium](https://go.adherent.com/news-resources/stacey-bowers-to-present-at-icphso-2022-annual-meeting-training-symposium) 26 January 2022 ![Regulating Explosive Atmospheres in the Workplace](https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/Regulating%20Explosive%20Atmospheres%20in%20the%20Workplace.png) [Regulating Explosive Atmospheres in the Workplace](https://go.adherent.com/news-resources/regulating-explosive-atmospheres-in-the-workplace) 25 January 2022 ![What's Trending in Product Compliance?](https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/Trending%20Jan%2022.png) [What's Trending in Product Compliance?](https://go.adherent.com/news-resources/whats-trending-in-compliance-jan-22) 24 January 2022 #### Ireland Office   Unit 9 Eastgate Avenue Eastgate Business Park Little Island Cork Ireland +353 (0)21 435 1990 [info@complianceandrisks.com](mailto:info@complianceandrisks.com) #### US Offices   New York 50 Fountain Plaza Suite 1400 Buffalo NY 14202 +1 716 939 1951   California P.O.Box 309 8712 Marysville Road Oregon House, CA 95962 – 0309 +1 530 216 4455 [![Compliance Logo](https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/Compliance_and_Risks_January2018/Images/compliancelogo.svg)](http://www.complianceandrisks.com/) #### Information - [Solutions](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/c2p-platform/) - [Industries](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/industry-solutions/) - [News & Resources](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/resources/) - [About Us](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/about-us/) - [Get in touch](https://www.complianceandrisks.com/contact/) - [About Us](http://www.complianceandrisks.com/about/) - [Get in touch](http://www.complianceandrisks.com/contact/) [![Compliance Logo](https://go.adherent.com/hubfs/Compliance_and_Risks_January2018/Images/compliancelogo.svg)](http://www.complianceandrisks.com/) © 2021 Compliance and Risks Ltd. | [Privacy Policy](http://www.complianceandrisks.com/privacy-policy/)