Report from the Commission on barriers posed by codes, standards and legislation to using climate-friendly technologies in the refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps and foam sectors

Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 requires a reduction in the quantities of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) companies may place on the market in the EU, i.e. through import or production, and thus will lead to a reduction in emissions of these powerful greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. This phase-down started in 2015 and will reduce the permitted supply of HFCs: a decrease of 79% in 2030 compared to 2009-2012. As a result, two-thirds of emissions will be saved in 2030 compared to a business as usual scenario. Thus it will make a significant contribution to meeting the Union's climate targets.

HFC emissions are also being addressed at global level. Under the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances an agreement has been reached this year to phase down the global consumption and production of HFCs. This will facilitate a worldwide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the context of the Paris Agreement.

Manufacturers of equipment and products using HFCs must therefore shift to the use of more climate-friendly alternatives. As technological progress has made large strides in recent years, a shift to suitable and energy-efficient alternatives with a low global warming potential (GWP) has become feasible for many types of equipment and products. However, non-technological barriers may put this transition to more climate-friendly alternatives at risk and result in higher costs than necessary.

In order to smooth the introduction of the HFC phase-down measure and support the development of green technologies, the co-legislators decided to ask the Commission to map potential restrictions on the placing of climate-friendly alternatives on the market. Article 11(6) of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 mandates the Commission to "collect, on the basis of available data from Member States, information on national codes, standards or legislation of Member States with respect to replacement technologies using alternatives to fluorinated greenhouse gases in refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment and in foams." The Commission shall publish a synthesis report on the information collected by 1 January 2017.

In addition to analysing the situation at a national level, this report covers legislation and standards at a European and an international level, as these standards establish benchmarks, widely used by companies, for the safe use of equipment throughout Europe. Many developing countries adopt European and international standards and make them mandatory in their own legislation. Hence, if such standards pose unjustified barriers to the uptake of climate-friendly technologies, the undesirable impact of these standards reaches markets far beyond the EU.

To facilitate addressing these issues the Commission has since the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders, including deliberations within the Consultation Forum established pursuant to Article 23 of the Regulation as well as tasked an external consultant to provide an analysis, including carrying out a questionnaire seeking input from Member States' authorities. This report draws upon this analysis and consultation process.

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