Disposables may contain dangerous mix
25th August 2018
ITALY: Tests on the contents of illegal disposable cylinders, which have been flooding the European market, have revealed that some may contain dangerous mixtures.
General Gas, a leading Italian refrigerant distributor, has revealed that tests on at least one of those illegal cylinders, supposedly containing R134a, contained a mixture of several components including the now illegal HCFC R22.
The European F-gas phase down has led to an unprecedented increase in refrigerant prices, prompting the less scrupulous to import cheap gas from outside the EU. Much of this gas is in illegal disposable, non-refillable cylinders, a container which was banned in Europe in 2007. It is also thought that the gas is being brought in outside of the European quota system and may be being sold to non-F-gas-registered persons.
The Cooling Post first highlighted incidents of suspect refrigerant being sold on internet auction sites and elsewhere in March. Since then, the problem has increased with Poland and Greece reporting to be particularly affected.
In a statement on its website, General Gas said that it was “witnessing a decidedly worrying phenomenon, which creates serious risks for both the environment and for the safety of technicians and end users.”
The company confirms fears expressed by the Cooling Post: “The phenomenon seems to have been particularly striking in the car air-conditioning sector (R134a), but also the refrigeration markets (R404A) and residential air-conditioning (R410A) do not seem to be exempt from this criminal practice,” General Gas says.
It accuses “unscrupulous operators” of seeking easy gains by illegally importing and commercialising refrigerants that are not covered by the F-gas quota, are packaged in illegal non-refillable cylinders, are not compliant with the REACH regulations and asserts that the refrigerant is probably being made available to personnel and companies that do not have F-gas certification.
General Gas also points out that single-use, disposable cylinders are built to DOT39 regulations – legislation that is not in force and therefore unacceptable in the EU. Therefore, they do not comply with the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive or possess the necessary CE marking.
Warnings have also been circulated by Assogastecnici, Italy’s national association of technical, special and medical gas production and distribution companies, that those breaching F-gas and national regulations face the prospect of up to nine months in jail or fines of up to €150,000.
Related stories:
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…
