1. F-Gases

2. EU F-Gases Regulation - Latest Developments

3. Main elements Commission proposal addressed 4 aspects:
1. Containment and recovery measures
2. Training and Certification
3. Data reporting requirements
4. Marketing and use restrictions

4. Political Agreement One proposal but two legislative instruments:
Directive on the phase out of HFCs > 150 GWP in mobile air conditioning systems
Regulation on containment and recovery, use bans and prohibitions

5. Scope Political Agreement covers
Fluorinated greenhouse gases in Kyoto Protocol
Applies to fluorinated gases listed in Annex I together with respective GWPs
GWPs base on third assessment of IPCC
Annex I can be reviewed and updated in the light of revisions under Kyoto Protocol (Article5(3))
Preparations containing fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP < 150 not covered by provisions of the Regulation

6. Containment
Obligation to minimise leakages and repair as soon as possible
Frequency of inspection schedule
Inspection by certified personnel
Leakage detectors defined
Operator defined, owner can be responsible for operator’s role
Inspection for leakage defined
Maintenance of records on inspections and servicing companies and personnel
Commission to define standard inspection requirements in Committee

7. Inspection Schedule – Political Agreement
Quantity of Fluorinated gases
Inspections per year
3 kg or more and 6 kg if hermetically sealed
1 inspection
30 kg or more
3 inspections
300 kg or more
4 inspections
30 kg and 300 kg + leakage detector
1 inspection for 30 kg 2 inspections for 300 kg

8. Recovery
Recovery an obligation for operators by certified personnel e.g. stationary equipment
Recovery obligatory from non-refillable containers at end of life (refillable banned)
Recovery in other products and equipment if technically possible and not disproportionate cost (e.g. foams, mobile air conditioning and refrigeration equipment except if serving military operations and mobile air conditioning)
Recovery to take place before final disposal or during servicing and maintenance

9. Training and Certification
Commission to establish minimum requirements and mutual recognition
Member States to establish or adjust their programmes to comply and notify Commission
Commission to establish notification format
Training and certification covers relevant personnel and companies and their relevant personnel
Operators have an obligation to ensure personnel used are trained and certified
Only certified personnel to take delivery of F-gases
F-gas Regulation could set training standards for ODS Regulation

10. Marketing and Use Restrictions
Magnesium die-casting
Vehicle tyres
Vehicle air-conditioning
Non-refillable containers
Direct evaporation - self chilling drinks cans
Fire protection systems
Windows
Footwear
One-component foams
Novelty aerosols

11. Committee One Committee, two Regulations
F-gas discussed by Article 18 Management Committee in Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on ‘Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer’
F-gas will be Regulatory Procedure, not Management Committee

12. 2nd reading = Common Position?
Deciding on the F-gas Regulation
European Parliament
1st reading
2nd reading
European Commission
proposal
2nd reading = Common Position?
Common position
Council (Member States) no
Council and Parliament negotiate through „Conciliation“ procedure
Note: It is possible to agree already during “1st reading“
yes
Law

13. Timetable for Implementation Assuming entry into force – 1 January 2007
Date
Deadlines
1 January 2007
Commission to establish standard inspection requirements for refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps and fire fighting systems (Article 3)
Commission to establish minimum requirements and mutual recognition for training programmes and certification for personnel in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps and fire fighting sectors (Article 5)
Commission to establish format of notification (Article 5)
1 January 2008
Member States adapt training and certification requirements to meet minimum requirements- notify Commission (Article 5)
Member States to ensure companies involved in containment and recovery can only take delivery of fluorinated greenhouse gases if their personnel are certified.
Commission to establish form of label (Article 6a)
1 January 2011
Review by Commission – evaluate training and certification, containment measures (assess need for maximum leakage rates), technology developments and prohibitions in Annex II (Article 9)

14. Conclusions Contributes to meeting Kyoto objectives
However, the final shape of the proposal still to be determined
Commission objective is to ensure that environmental ambition of its proposal maintained
It is only a first step in regulating emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases
Focus on ensuring that containment and recovery works well

15. Further information Commission Communication 2001
Report of working group
Climate Change Unit web-site
Contact