Polish car industry fears threat from illegal R134a

POLAND: The automotive industry in Poland is calling for more decisive action from its government in the fight against a tide of illegal R134a refrigerant.

The Association of Automotive Parts Distributors and Manufacturers (SDCM) in a recent appeal to Poland’s Ministry of Finance drew attention to the deepening problem related to the grey zone in the trade of R134a.

The SDCM argues that the illegal trade negatively affects the activities of the automotive industry and distributors of refrigeration equipment and agents and warns of the dangers of contaminated R134a of unknown origin seriously damaging the air conditioning system.

Although banned in new cars since 2017, R134a refrigerant is still legally used in the service and maintenance of AC systems in older cars, but illegal imports, mainly from non-EU countries, are said to be increasingly prevalent in Poland.

Despite legislative efforts, the SDCM says that the refrigeration market is struggling with a persistent grey zone in this area. The SDCM claims that, in order to avoid control, some car workshops, obtain legal refrigerant from official distributors, while simultaneously purchasing larger quantities of illegally introduced substances.

It maintains that such actions not only undermine fair competition, but also pose a real threat to the environment. Legally operating companies suffer in addition to the state treasury.

Polish refrigerant distributors have previously raised concerns regarding illegal activity, much of it originating from China and entering through the border with Ukraine. Turkey is flagged as another source of illegal refrigerant, from where gas is transported through Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia to Poland.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more cases in which refrigerant of unknown origin leads to irreversible damage to air conditioning stations,” commented Wojciech Jagodziński, segment manager of workshop equipment and accessories at Inter Cars, Poland’s biggest importer and distributor of automotive spare parts.

“The costs of repairing such devices often exceed the value of the equipment itself, which in turn generates additional financial burdens for workshops,” he added.

Adam Lehnort, an expert from the ProfiAuto Serwis network of garages belonging to Moto-Profil, claimed that demand for R134a remains high, along with prices, as Poles do not use the newest vehicles.

“Unfortunately, the growing demand has created space for the black market, which offers cheaper refrigerant, often of unknown origin. There are many offers on online sales platforms, but deciding to buy such a product can expose you to serious problems. Although the cylinder may look correctly marked with the R134a symbol, the content often does not meet the declared standards. The substance may be contaminated or of a completely different origin, which can lead to serious damage to the air conditioning system,” he added.

“R134a, if not used in accordance with the standards, may pose a threat to human health and safety. Substances originating from illegal sources may not meet the required quality standards, which increases the risk of leaks, fires or other failures in air conditioning systems,” said SDCM president Tomasz Bęben.

“Legally operating companies incur costs related to compliance with regulations and ensuring high quality of their products. Illegal trade in refrigerants undermines fair competition, as illegal suppliers offer products at much lower prices, without incurring the same operating costs or ensuring compliance with regulations. Using illegal refrigerants may lead to serious legal consequences, including high financial penalties and criminal liability for companies and individuals involved in such practices.”

The SDCM represents over 250 of the largest brands in the Polish automotive parts industry and market, representing the interests of industry, trade and services worth nearly PLN140 billion annually.

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