German group seeks evidence of illegal trade
GERMANY: Three of Germany’s leading refrigeration and air conditioning groups are calling on its members to report all instances of suspected illegal trades in refrigerant.
The so-called Bonn Voice coalition of the VDKF, ZVKKW and BIV is seeking a better overview of the illegal trade in F-gases in order, they say, to increase the political pressure on regulators and to act directly against those responsible.
Countries across Europe have highlighted the illegal trade in cheap refrigerants, encouraged by sharp increases in prices of HFCs last year. Despite crackdowns by the authorities, illegal refrigerant continues to be openly traded on the internet.
The Bonn Voice warns that the composition of this cheap refrigerant may not be what is claimed, and may have illegally bypassed the European quota system.
The groups have called on their members to provide them with evidence of suspect refrigerant from dubious sources that either does not meet specifications or is thought to have been imported outside of the European F-gas quota system.
Related stories:
F-gas threatens Euro manufacturers – 4 February 2018
GERMANY: The German air conditioning and refrigeration industry has warned that refrigerant shortages and high prices risk putting European equipment manufacturers at a severe disadvantage in global markets. Read more…
German government to discuss gas shortages – 18 December 2017
GERMANY: The German refrigeration and air conditioning industry has been granted the opportunity to put its concerns over refrigerant shortages to the German government. Read more…
Germany reacts to refrigerant shortages – 21 November 2017
GERMANY: Leading German air conditioning and refrigeration associations are demanding meetings with the government over refrigerant shortages. Read more…
