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UK: Guidance on using and trading fluorinated gas and ozone-depleting substances: rules and processes if the UK leaves the EU with no deal

Published on 14/01/2019

On 19th December 2018, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has published the Guidance on using and trading fluorinated gas and ozone-depleting substances: rules and processes if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. If the UK leaves the EU with no deal, the UK will regulate fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gas) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) from 30 March 2019. F gas and ODS are substances used mainly as refrigerants, but also in other products including: medical inhalers, fire extinguishers, insulation foams, solvents, feedstocks for the manufacture of other chemicals. This guide is for businesses and individuals who currently need to follow EU regulations:

517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases
1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer

This affects you if you:

produce, supply, import, export or use bulk F gas or ODS
manufacture or import equipment containing F gas or ODS

You can use this guide if you service:

commercial, industrial and transport refrigeration and air conditioning systems
other products containing F gas or ODS

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, EU F gas and ODS regulations will no longer apply in the UK from 30 March 2019. New UK regulations will transfer most of the requirements of the EU regulations into UK law. The UK will continue to:

restrict ODS
use the same schedule as the EU to phase down HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons, the most common type of F gas) by 79% by 2030 relative to a 2009 to 2012 baseline

That means UK F gas quotas will follow the same phase down steps as the EU:

limited to 63% of the baseline in 2019 and 2020
reducing to 45% of the baseline in 2021

Most of the rules for F gas and ODS will not change. However, the UK will have separate quota systems, and the IT systems UK businesses use to manage quotas and report on use will change. You’ll still need to comply with EU regulations on products you place on the EU market after exit. Source: Guidance – Using and trading fluorinated gas and ozone-depleting substances: rules and processes if the UK leaves the EU with no deal, published on 19th December on the Government webpage.

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UK: Guidance on using and trading fluorinated gas and ozone-depleting substances: rules and processes if the UK leaves the EU with no deal

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