FETA concern over proposed phase down plan

UK: The manufacturers’ body FETA has raised concerns that the proposed GB F-gas phase down timetable will have severe impacts on the whole RACHP industry.

Responding to DEFRA’s consultation proposals, FETA says that industry needs more time to prepare for significant cuts in refrigerant availability.

DEFRA’s proposals adjust the existing F-gas schedule from 2027 and add further steps from 2030 until 2050. It would reduce the HFC quota in England, Scotland and Wales by 46.1 million tonnes of CO2e from 2027-2050.

Of particular concern is DEFRA’s plan to virtually halve the current quota of 31% of the baseline to just 16.2% from 2027.

“Whilst we do not question the ultimate goal of the phase down, we believe that the cut in quota in the proposal from 1st January 2027 will have severe impacts on the whole RACHP industry, and might possibly have impacts on consumers, and more specifically the roll out of heat pumps to meet the UK’s net zero commitments,” FETA says. 

It argues that while the cut is less than the cut to 13.1% in the European F-gas regulation, the EU has had two years to prepare.  “The current proposal would give the GB market less than twelve months notice of this major reduction in availability of refrigerants,” FETA maintains. Instead, FETA proposes a slower “hybrid” phase down with a cut to 24% from 2027. It says that this would still be a major challenge but could be manageable.

FETA also questions DEFRA’s claim that GB industry is currently operating within the quota limits and possible assumptions regarding the availability of recovered refrigerant. 

“We are aware that the EU F-gas regulation relies on significant quantities of recovered refrigerant being available to make up the shortfall between demand and phase down. If DEFRA are making similar assumptions, our concern is that currently the market is not seeing significant quantities of recovered refrigerant being made available,” it states.

Training is another area of concern, with the HFC phase down accelerating the adoption of A2L, A3, and CO₂ refrigerants. FETA points out that the UK currently lacks a mandatory training and competence framework to support this transition, unlike the EU, which has introduced a structured training matrix under its implementing regulation (2024/2215). 

Key concerns include the absence of national competence standards, outdated qualifications, and no mandatory training for flammable or high-pressure refrigerants. 

“This gap poses serious risks, including inconsistent certification, fragmented skills provision, and unsafe or non-compliant installations,” FETA states.

“Without regulatory intervention, awarding bodies may create divergent schemes, reducing industry confidence and increasing safety risks. Designers and installers, not just technicians, require targeted training to ensure compliance with standards such as PE(S)R, hazardous area classification, and high-pressure system design.”

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UK opens F-gas phase-down consultation – 5 November 2025
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