Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) highly contribute to global warming. Their warming impact is often thousands of times higher than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). Initially introduced to replace ozone-depleting substances (ODS), F-gases were found to trap heat from the sun and thus make the planet warm up faster.
F-gases are human-made. They include hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and other fluorinated compounds. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) represent around 90% of all F-gases. Although you may not know about these substances, you get into contact with them in one form or another each day.
F-gases are used in common products, equipment and processes such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, insulation, fire protection, power lines, and aerosol propellants as well as in industrial processes. While F-gases are useful in these applications, their negative impact on our climate requires improved regulation and efforts to promote more sustainable alternatives, like ammonia propane or CO2.
F-gases contribute to climate change primarily by trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. When released, they absorb and hold infrared radiation, preventing it from escaping into space. This trapped heat warms the Earth’s surface, creating a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect, which is the primary cause of climate change.
Some F-gases can persist in the atmosphere for a long time, ranging from several years to even centuries, and therefore contribute to the greenhouse effect over an extended period. Even in smaller quantities, F-gases can have a significant warming impact, whose consequences include altered weather patterns, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems worldwide.
Emissions can occur when F-gases are produced, transported, stored, or filled into products and equipment or if they leak during their lifetime or disposal. When contained in products such as aerosol sprays and solvents, for example, F-gases are emitted outright into the atmosphere. It is a fundamental principle in the new F-gas Regulation that everyone must prevent these emissions if possible.
F-gas emissions, particularly from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), increased significantly from 1990 due to their widespread use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Emissions of F-gases in the EU nearly doubled between 1990 and 2014, in contrast to the declining trend observed in emissions of other greenhouse gases during the same period. However, F-gas emissions in the EU have been consistently decreasing each year since 2015, thanks to the implementation of the 2014 F-gas Regulation.
Rules and Regulations
The European Commission on September 2 published the final text of new rules on the labelling of products and equipment that contain f-gases, aiming to improve the visibility, readability and durability of labels.
The Implementing Regulation, (EU) 2024/2174, which lays down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2024/573) will come into force 20 days from publication but will not be applied until January 1, 2025. It repeals the previous version, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2068). The delayed application will give manufacturers and suppliers time to comply with the new requirements; it also considers the need for re-labelling products already on the market and allows for a transition period to update existing labels.
Because f-gases are powerful contributors to global warming, their proper chemical labelling is crucial for effective monitoring and reduction of emissions. The new rules include requirements for the visibility, readability and durability of labels, ensuring that they remain legible throughout a product’s life cycle. Labels must contain essential information, such as the presence of f-gases, the amount of gas (in kilograms or grams), and its CO2e emissions.
Additional labels are required for products that contain recycled or reclaimed f-gases, with specific phrases such as “100% Recycled” or “100% Reclaimed.” Labels also need to indicate if the gases are intended for destruction, direct export, or specific uses such as for military equipment or semiconductor manufacturing.
Special provisions are made for products used in the medical field, allowing flexibility in how information is presented, including the option to place the required details on outer packaging or leaflets.
Updating Labelling Requirements
By updating the labelling of f-gases, the EU aims to “enhance transparency, ensure proper handling and promote the use of recycled or reclaimed gases,” said Marc Chasserot, CEO of ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com. It also aims to facilitate the enforcement of these regulations by providing “clear, consistent guidelines that are easy for both industry and regulatory bodies to follow.”
In addition, products that fall under the labelling requirements of other EU regulations, such as the Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) of chemicals (EC) 1272/2008, must harmonise their labels to ensure consistency in the labelling of all products containing f-gases.
A stark label – “Prohibited to be operated, unless required by safety requirements that have to be applied at the site of operation” – will need to be added on products containing banned f-gas starting from the dates of entry into force of their bans, as specified in designated articles of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2024/573.
“This regulation is a significant step towards improving the management of f-gases within the EU, supporting the broader goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change,” said Chasserot .
The European Union has implemented new regulations to phase down the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), aiming for a complete phase-out by 2050.
Key aspects of these regulations include:
- Expanded Scope: An additional 23 F-gases are now subject to regulatory controls, broadening the range of substances covered.
- Stricter Quotas and Controls: The regulations introduce more stringent quotas and expanded controls to significantly reduce the use and emissions of high-global-warming-potential (GWP) F-gases, promoting alternative solutions with lower climate impact.
- New Labelling Requirements: A revised labelling format for F-gas containers and equipment will take effect in January 2025, enhancing clarity and compliance.
- Reporting Obligations: A new annual reporting format will be required from March 2025, covering data from 2024 and integrated into the F-gas Portal.
These measures are part of the EU’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Businesses involved in the production, import, export, or use of F-gases should review these regulations to ensure compliance and adapt their operations accordingly.
Exemptions
HFCs are the most common type of fluorinated gas (F gas). Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is phasing down HFCs, including mixtures, by 79% by 2030. This is compared to the average use of HFCs between 2009 and 2012. Some HFCs are exempt from the phase down and do not count towards your quota.
HFCs are exempt if you import or produce them directly for use:
- as feedstocks (bulk HFCs that are chemically transformed into other substances)
- in military equipment
- in metered dose inhalers for medicines (for example, asthma inhalers)
- to etch semiconductor material (for example, plasma etching)
- to clean chemicals vapour deposition chambers in semiconductor manufacturing
HFCs are also exempt from the phase down if you:
- import them for destruction
- export them and they were never intended to be placed on the market in Great Britain
You must label the container of your exempt HFCs. The label must say which exemption the gas will be used for and meet all other requirements for labelling F gas. Your HFCs will remain exempt if you sell them directly to the business or organisation carrying out an exempt activity. They will not be exempt if you sell them to an organisation that is not carrying out exempt activities, even if the HFCs are later used for an exempt activity.
You must label all products you produce, import or install that contain regulated F gas. The label must include the:
- industry name for the F gas
- mass of F gas in the equipment (kg)
- weight of the F gas in equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide
- global warming potential of the F gas
Label the product as containing ‘hermetically sealed F gas’ if the part of the product containing F gas is permanently sealed, for example welded or brazed shut, even if it has capped valves or service ports and/or the product has a tested leak rate of less than 3g per year.
