Brussels, 29/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - At the end of September, the European Commission allocated quotas to EU companies which will sell hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) in the EU in 2016. This is the last stage in the phased reduction in the quantity of greenhouse gases that can be sold in the EU, the Commission said on 23 September.
Allocation of these quotas was conducted under the terms of the new EU regulation on HFCs (Regulation 517/2014/EU) which seeks to reduce emissions of these gases, which have a high global warming potential, by two thirds by 2030 compared with current levels (see EUROPE 11313 and 11067).
The quotas were allocated to “new entrants”, that is, companies that made a declaration in the period 1 May-30 June 2015, and to incumbent companies, based on their reference values. Incumbents are companies that have reported having placed more than one metric tonne of HFCs on the EU market in at least one year in the period from 2009 to 2012.
To consult their quotas, the companies involved are asked to refer to the HFC registry, an electronic registry set up by the regulation. Quotas for new entrants are allocated on a yearly basis, based on a declaration process. The next declaration period for 2017 quotas will take place in spring 2016 and will be announced in the Official Journal.
The greenhouse effect of HFCs can be up to 23,000 times greater than that of CO2. Regulation 517/2014/EU provides for the implementation of a phased reduction of HFCs, under which the placing on the market of HFCs by each undertaking is subject to quantitative limits. From 1 January 2015, quotas have been required for producers and importers placing at least 100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent of HFCs in bulk on the market in a calendar year. Quotas are not allocated to producers or importers of gases contained in products and equipment. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)