Poland uncovers HFC customs irregularities

POLAND: Customs and tax officers have uncovered a number of attempts to smuggle small quantities of refrigerant and customs irregularities in products passing across the Polish border with Ukraine.

In Hrebenne, officers selected a truck driven by a Ukrainian citizen for inspection. During the search, officers discovered two cylinders containing 22kg of R404A. 

In another truck inspected at the border in Hrebenne, officers found a cylinder containing around 14kg of R134A in the toolbox. The driver of the truck attempting to illegally import the gas into Poland did not have the correct documentation and had not reported it to customs. 

Tax criminal proceedings were initiated against both men. They each paid PLN500 (€120) towards the fines they faced for the tax offences. 

At the border crossing in Dołhobyczów, a Ukrainian resident leaving Poland submitted an export document for customs clearance, indicating that he was exporting air conditioner parts to Ukraine. 

During the inspection, customs and fiscal service officers discovered a number of irregularities. They determined that the goods had been incorrectly tariffed to the customs tariff code – and that these were not air conditioner parts, but finished heat pumps. Customs claim the erroneous tariffing was intended to undervalue the transported goods. 

In addition, as indicated by the nameplate on the devices, they contained R410A refrigerant. As this gas is on the list of goods subject to restrictions/bans in the EU, it cannot be exported without completing export formalities.