Any F-gas delay risks crippling Spanish retailers
23rd July 2026
SPAIN: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has warned a Spanish retailers association that moves to delay the phase down of F-gases risk crippling the very retailers they claim to protect.
ASEDAS, the Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service Stores, and Supermarkets, has called for a review of the F-gas regulation 2024/573 to more closely align it with the state of technology, the availability of alternative solutions, and the appropriate fluorinated gases.
The group claims that there is great concern among food distribution companies about the phase down timetable imposed by the regulation which, it says, has not taken into account the cooling needs in countries with high average temperatures, such as Spain.
However, EIA senior climate campaigner Fionnuala Walravens warned that ASEDAS’ demands risk crippling the very retailers they claim to protect. “Supermarkets tend to use the most polluting types of F-gases which are already heavily taxed in Spain, making F-gases a costly choice. Ongoing use of F-gases by supermarkets is also linked to widespread illegal and contaminated refrigerants.”
Walravens claims that “natural” refrigerants are in plentiful supply in Europe and 34% of all food retails stores in Europe are already using CO2 systems, including in countries that experience high temperatures.
Supermarket chains such as Carrefour and Jerónimo Martins, which have stores in countries that experience extreme heat like France, Portugal and Colombia, are among these retailers. EIA’s engagement with another retailer, METRO AG, noted that stores with CO2 systems are more resilient to the heat, dealing with temperatures above 40°C.
The EIA argues that Spain is leading Europe in its efforts to accelerate its training schemes for certified technicians, with data from the contractors’ group AREA revealing that around 85% of certified installers are already trained to work with natural refrigerants.
María Carrasco, project manager of Ecodes, an independent organisation promoting sustainable development projects in Spain and Latin America, said: “The concerns raised by the sector must be addressed, but not by weakening or delaying the F-gas regulation. Spain and the EU should instead accelerate training, certification and investment, turning the transition into an opportunity to create skilled, local and non-offshorable jobs.”
