Climate efforts hampered by growing black market for illegal gases in the EU

Brussels, February 24, 2020 – There is a growing black market for illegally imported HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) gases. Illegal HFCs are brought into Europe outside of defined quotas set in place to help combat climate change through the EU F-gas Regulation. This regulation entered into force five years ago this year and is targeting a 79% reduction of F-gas use by 2030, with the intended effect of stimulating the transition to alternative solutions.