UK and EU agree mutual recognition of F-gas certificates
28th January 2020
UK: DEFRA has confirmed that UK F-gas certification will continue to be recognised in the EU, ending fears that they would cease to be valid after January 31.
Following “months of protracted negotiations”, the F-gas certification body REFCOM has received confirmation from DEFRA that the European Commission has agreed that “mutual recognition” of certificates will continue during the implementation period.
As a result, company and individual F-gas registrations will continue to be accepted throughout the EU at least until the end of this year, and probably beyond as the UK and EU thrash out a longer-term trading agreement.
Head of REFCOM Graeme Fox, who has been at the forefront of the UK industry’s efforts, said:
“This is great news for REFCOM members from the UK, who occasionally work in the Republic of Ireland or mainland Europe, and for members based in the EU zone who were concerned that their REFCOM registration would no longer be recognised outside the UK after 31st January.”
Fox said members could now plan ahead secure in the knowledge that their existing REFCOM registration would remain valid for use throughout the EU during the transition period “and hopefully beyond” as negotiations are ongoing to maintain the status quo in the long term.
