UK F-gas revision will focus on British needs
5th January 2024
UK: The UK government has repeated assertions that any changes to the F-gas regulations will be focused on the needs and opportunities specific to the GB market.
In a written question to DEFRA on December 18, Conservative peer Lord Carrington asked what assessment had been made of the EU’s F-gas regulation review and whether the government intended to keep alignment with the EU.
In response, Lord Benyon, minister of state at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office revealed that they would “shortly” be providing the House of Lords European affairs sub-committee on the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland with an updated assessment of the EU’s F-gas changes.
In respect of Great Britain, he said: “F-gas policy is a key contributor to mitigating climate change, and we are reviewing our legislation to support delivery of our ambitious, domestic net zero agenda. Any changes we might propose will be focused on the needs and opportunities specific to the GB market.”
The current European F-gas regulation (517/2014) was transferred into UK law post brexit. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) now has the opportunity to diverge from the European regulations.
With the European Parliament expected to rubber stamp its F-gas revisions within the next few weeks, the UK HVACR industry has been pressing ministers to take a more pragmatic approach to its own F-gas revision proposals.
There are benefits to some degree of harmonisation between the UK and European regulations, particularly with regard to the position of Northern Ireland, but the UK does have its own ambitious climate change targets.
