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Dutch seize more than 40 tonnes of refrigerant

NETHERLANDS: Dutch authorities recently seized more than 3,500 cylinders of HFC refrigerants at the Venlo border with Germany.

The shipment, comprising approximately 40 tonnes of gas, on three trucks en route from Turkey, did not have the correct permits and quotas.

The interception of the illegal consignment took place following a report from the EU’s Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). 

The seizure, which was reported last week by the Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT), the Netherlands’ human environment and transport inspectorate, took place on March 20. It is not reported what refrigerant was involved but from photographs some, at least, is R410A.

The Dutch public prosecution service says it will now decide whether the refrigerant will be destroyed or auctioned to EU quota holders.

The ILT also claims to have been involved in another seizure in January of this year, when a truck containing HFCs from a Dutch company was also taken off the road by Belgian customs.

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