Unintended consequences: Europe faces endless whack-a-mole against refrigerant smugglers

PostedPublished 7 January 2025
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The European Union’s ambitious HFC phase-down continues to yield unintended consequences, with the lucrative black market for R134a and other regulated high global warming potential (GWP) products showing no signs of slowing down as smugglers capitalise on sky-rocketing prices caused by legislated quotas that restrict supply.

Quota System Creates a Perfect Storm

The EU’s fluorinated gas (F-gas) regulation, implemented in 2015, aims to gradually reduce the use of high-GWP refrigerants over 15 years through a quota system.

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