Bulgarian customs seize disposables
29th August 2018BULGARIA: Customs inspectors in the Bulgarian city of Ruse, on the border with Romania, have seized 12 illegal disposable cylinders of refrigerant on their way to western Europe.
According to reports on Darik News, six 10.9kg cylinders of R404A and six 13.6kg cylinders of R134a were found on an empty minibus covered by a blanket.
Increasing prices of refrigerant in Europe as a result of the F-gas phase down is sucking in illegal quota-busting amounts of gas in banned disposable cylinders. Much of it is being sold openly on the internet with the authorities seemingly incapable of stemming the flow.
The Cooling Post has been tracking the rise in this illegal activity since March and has received reports of significant problems in many European countries including UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Greece, Estonia and Lithuania.
Related stories:
Baltic states hit by illegal imports – 28 August 2018
EUROPE: The illegal import of refrigerants in disposable cylinders continue with the Baltic states adding to the outcry. Read more…
AREA raises illegal refrigerant concern – 21 August 2018
BELGIUM: AREA has raised concerns about illegal imports and black market trade in refrigerants in a submission to the European Commission. Read more…
Phase down sparks rise in illegal sales – 21 March 2018
EUROPE: With the F-gas regulations beginning to bite and higher GWP refrigerants becoming expensive and scarce, evidence of illegal imports and sales is increasing. Read more…
ICOOL acts on illegal refrigerant sales – 10 August 2018
CHINA: Chinese refrigerant supplier ICOOL has taken swift action after finding its refrigerant was being sold in illegal disposable cylinders in the EU. Read more…
German eBay awash with illegal R134a – 30 July 2018
GERMANY: With European authorities still reluctant to recognise the extent of illegal refrigerant sales, the Cooling Post has uncovered large amounts of illegal R134a being sold in Germany. Read more…
Poland swamped by illegal refrigerant – 25 July 2018
POLAND: A leading refrigerants organisation has reported a “massive inflow” of illegal HFCs into Poland. Read more…
Illegal refrigerant costs Greece €20m – 23 July 2018
GREECE: The Greek air conditioning and refrigeration industry has accused EU member state Bulgaria as being a gateway for illegal refrigerant from Albania, Macedonia and Turkey. Read more…
Cantas “shock” at illegal imports – 13 July 2018
TURKEY: Istanbul-based refrigerant supplier Cantas has reacted with shock to learn that its refrigerant is being imported into the UK in illegal non-refillable cylinders. Read more…
