Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are human-made gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, significantly contributing to global warming. HThey include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). HFCs represent around 90% of all F-gases.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and other applications. They are potent F-gases that highly contribute to global warming, which is why they are being phased outgradually eliminated in the EU viaunder the EU F-gas Regulation. Meanwhile, and also globally phase-down theunder the international agreement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is phasing down HFCs globally.
F-gases have several uses, mostly used in:
- refrigeration
- air conditioning
- heat pumps
- insulation
- fire protection
- power lines
- medical equipment
- aerosol propellants
- and various other industrial processes
Today, it is often possible to mitigate climate warming by replacing F-gases with other F-gases with a significantly lower climate impact or with alternatives that are not F-gases.
F-gases contribute to climate change by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Their global warming potential (GWP) is often thousands of times higher than the one of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
GWP measures the impact of greenhouse gases relative to carbon dioxide (CO₂) over 100 years. For example, SF6 has a GWP of around 24 300, meaning it is 24 300 times more effective at trapping heat than CO₂.
The EU regulates the use of F-gases through the F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, which includes measures such as:
- a quota system to limit the amount of HFCs placed on the EU market
- leakage prevention systems
- certification and training
- proper recovery and disposal of F-gases
Measures include regular leak checks, proper maintenance and servicing of equipment, recovery and destruction of F-gases at the end of the equipment's life, and stricter rules to prevent emissions during transportation and disposal.
The EU has implemented the 2024 F-gas Regulation and its successor, which have significantly reduced F-gas emissions through a quota system, equipment bans, leakage prevention, and promoting greener alternatives.
Reducing F-gas emissions lowers their overall greenhouse gas impact, contributing to climate change mitigation. The transition to low-GWP alternatives and improved handling practices reduces the presence of these potent gases in the atmosphere and, therefore, limits their climate impact.
Entities that need to register in the F-gas Portal include:
- Importers
- Exporters
- Producers of bulk F-gases
- Importers and exporters of F-gases filled in equipment and products
- Companies receiving bulk HFCs for destruction, direct export, or other specific uses
- Managers of import authorisations for HFC-containing equipment
To register in the F-gas Portal, entities must:
- Create an EU Login account
- Login to the F-gas Portal
- Complete the registration form with the necessary details
- Submit it for review by the European Commission
The registration form must be kept updated to remain valid.
F-gas Registration rules are available under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2473
Both documents are accessible through the starting page of the F-gas Portal. Alternatively, please use the links below:
The Commission aims to process registration requests within 10 working days. However, if the fields are not completed correctly or if the required documentation is incomplete or inaccurate, the procedure may take longer, as the Commission will return the registration request for corrections. At one point, the Commission may reject the registration request.
Please consult the following tutorial: EU Login Tutorial (europa.eu)
For any issues regarding your EU login consult the EU Login FAQ page and. In case you couldn’t find an answer EU-LOGIN-EXTERNAL-SUPPORT
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (subject: EU%20Login%20-%20DG%20CLIMA%20registries) (please contact the responsible EU login helpdesk).
Please ensure that you login with the email address you had registered in the F-gas Portal. For any issues with your EU login please consult the following EU Login FAQ In case you couldn’t find an answer EU-LOGIN-EXTERNAL-SUPPORTec [dot] europa [dot] eu (subject: EU%20Login%20-%20DG%20CLIMA%20registries) (please contact the responsible EU login helpdesk).
First of all, if the new main contact is not yet a named user in the registration, the current main contact must add them. They will need an EU Login account to be able to access the F-gas Portal.
The new main contact should then log in to the F-gas Portal and download a new registration form statement. The person logged in performing this action will be named on it as the contact person for the undertaking. Once the registration form statement has been signed and dated by a legal representative of the undertaking, the new main contact should upload it before re-submitting the registration. It is essential that this action is performed by the same person since whoever uploads the registration form statement is indicated as the main contact in the list of users.
Please provide us with the details of the new main contact by email to CLIMA-HFC-Registryec [dot] europa [dot] eu (CLIMA-HFC-Registry[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) and we will add them as a user. Then follow the steps above. The main contact can also add additional users who may need to access the registration if necessary.
Since the entering into force of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/661 of 25 April 2019 ensuring the smooth functioning of the electronic registry for quotas for placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market, undertakings registering in the F-gas Portal are obliged to submit a financial identification form along with the registration statement. The financial identification form is a part of the verification of the legal existence of the organisation requesting registration to ensure the integrity of the information provided. There will be no further use of the data.
Please email us at CLIMA-HFC-REGISTRYec [dot] europa [dot] eu (CLIMA-HFC-REGISTRY[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) providing the contact details, including an e-mail address of the main contact. We will then add them as a user to the registration, so that they can update it.
You can find more information on this dedicated document, which explores the national implementation of EORI.
Please email us at CLIMA-HFC-REGISTRYec [dot] europa [dot] eu (CLIMA-HFC-REGISTRY[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) providing an official extract from the national trade register in support of the name change. We will then modify the name for you and put the registration into revision, so that you can provide a new registration form statement and financial ID form.
Only companies that have indicated being an importer/producer of bulk HFCs in their business specifications have access to this section.
Please write to CLIMA-HFC-REGISTRYec [dot] europa [dot] eu (CLIMA-HFC-REGISTRY[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) and provide an official extract from the national trade register supporting the name change. We will then modify the name for you and revise the registration so that you can provide a new registration form statement and financial ID form.
Only companies that have indicated that they are importers/producers of bulk HFCs in their business specifications have access to this section.
The HFC quota system limits the amount of HFCs that can be placed on the EU market each year, gradually reducing this amount until it reaches zero by 2050.
Quota is required for placing HFCs in bulk on the EU market.
Quota can be obtained
- By submitting a declaration for quota needs to the European Commission through the F-gas Portal which is possible at least every three years (next time by 1 April 2027). The exact dates will be published on the message board of the F-gas Portal in advance. Note that only producers and importers with at least 3 years of experience in trading chemicals or servicing relevant equipment may submit a quota declaration and receive quota based on a quota declaration.
- By acquiring them from a quota holder. The matchmaking tool in the F-gas Portal can help to contact them.
- Incumbent market players may receive quotas based on historical placings on the market.
Quota allocation is limited to producers or importers with an establishment in the EU, or those with an only representative with an establishment within the Union that assumes the full responsibility for compliance with this Regulation and Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. ‘Establishment within the Union’ means, in relation to a natural person, for that person to have his or her habitual residence in the Union and, in relation to a legal person, for that person to have a permanent business establishment as referred to in Article 5, point (32), of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 in the Union;
Producers and importers with at least 3 years of experience in trading chemicals or servicing relevant equipment may submit a quota declaration under Article 17(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 or receive a quota based on such a declaration. The Commission may ask for proof.
Entities with the same beneficial owner are treated as a single undertaking, and only the first registered entity is eligible for a reference value and quota allocation unless otherwise indicated by the owner. Usually, the Commission takes the historical placings on the market of the linked undertakings into account when calculating the reference value of the single undertaking.
By 31 October 2024 and at least every three years after that, the Commission calculates reference values for producers and importers of hydrofluorocarbons, who placed HFCs on the market in the last three years. The calculation details are available in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2024/573.
For quotas allocated from 2026 onwards, Regulation (EU) 2024/573 introduces a mandatory price of €3 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent.
The European Commission will inform affected companies of the specific procedures in due time. The general process will be as follows: Companies eligible for a 2026 quota allocation will be notified of the maximum quota they can receive, the corresponding maximum payment, and the whole payment procedure. Payments must be made within a specified timeframe. After this, the Commission will allocate quotas based on the amount paid. This allocation could be the maximum quota or a lower amount, depending on how much the company has paid.
Quota is valid in the calendar year (1 January 1 to 31 December) for which it has been allocated.
You can use your quota to place bulk HFCs on the EU market up to the available amount. You need to have sufficient quota at the time of import. Incumbent quota holders can transfer or authorise their quota to another company, which new entrants cannot.
Quotas can be transferred only through the F-gas portal. Both the transferring and receiving companies must be registered in the system. When engaging in the sale of quotas it is important to exercise due diligence as a registration in the F-gas Portal does not serve as a guarantee that the company will fulfil its contractual obligations in agreements between private parties.
Quotas can be authorised only through the F-gas portal. Both the transferring and receiving companies must be registered in the system. When engaging in the sale of quotas it is important to exercise due diligence as a registration in the F-gas Portal does not serve as a guarantee that the company will fulfil its contractual obligations in agreements between private parties.
Quota authorisations are required for the import of equipment or product pre-charged with HFCs. Companies must have sufficient authorisations at the time of import.
You can acquire authorisations from a quota holder only. The matchmaking tool in the F-gas Portal can help you get in touch with them.
No, under the new F-gas Regulation, which entered into force in March 2024, new entrant quota holders cannot authorise their quota anymore. Only quota holders with a reference value can. They are listed in the relevant implementing act under Documentation.
Authorisations (and delegations) are not time-bound but valid until used up.
Authorisations can only be delegated through the F-gas portal. Both the granting and receiving companies must be registered in the system. The grantor must be registered as authorisation manager in the F-gas Portal, the receiving company as importer of HFCs pre-charged in equipment or product. When engaging in such sale it is important to exercise due diligence as a registration in the F-gas Portal does not serve as a guarantee that the company will fulfil its contractual obligations in agreements between private parties.
No, this is not possible. Delegations can only be used for placing equipment/ product pre-charged with HFCs on the market.
Companies must report annually by 31 March on the amount of F-gases they placed on the EU market, whether in bulk or pre-charged in equipment in the preceding year. They must also report on recovery, recycling, and destruction activities to ensure compliance and facilitate monitoring. In some cases a verification report has to be uploaded in the reporting tool as well. Article 26 and Annex IX to Regulation (EU) 2024/573 provide the details.
Independent auditors verify the accuracy of companies' annual reports on F-gas activities. They must be accredited pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC or accredited to verify financial statements in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned. Furthermore, they have to be registered in the F-gas Portal.
In addition to the F-gas Regulation, please consult this related Implementing Act. Furthermore, dedicated guidelines are available for consultation.
The reporting tool can be accessed through the company’s profile in the F-gas Portal by clicking on the orange button “Reporting” in the upper right corner.
The EU uses the F-gas Portal to monitor compliance, including digitalisation and customs control automation. This system helps enforce the regulations, track quota allocations, and prevent illegal trade.
Non-compliance with the F-gas Regulation can result in penalties varying by Member State. Companies must adhere to the reporting, quota, and handling requirements to avoid legal and financial consequences.
The F-gas Regulation includes rules to prevent and fix leaks from equipment using F-gases. Operators of equipment containing significant quantities of F-gases must ensure regular leak checks and proper maintenance to reduce accidental emissions.
Individuals and companies working with F-gases must be properly trained and certified. This includes technicians and personnel involved in installing, servicing, and maintaining equipment that uses F-gases, ensuring safe and efficient handling.