Romania sets €6k maximum fine for F-gas violations
25th March 2020
ROMANIA: Fines to a maximum of just over €6,000 have been set by the Romanian government for contraventions of the European F-gas regulation (517/2014) to control HFC refrigerants.
Individual face fines have been set from RON1,000 (€205.00) to a maximum of RON2,000 (€410.00), while company fines are from RON15,000 (€3,100) to a maximum of RON30,000 (€6,200).
The European Commission stepped up pressure on Romania last month by sending a formal request to comply with EU law, following the country’s continued failure to adopt penalties for breaches of the F-gas regulation. Penalties should have been in place in all EU member states by 1 January 2017.
While EU member states are free to set their own level of fines, the penalties must be “effective, proportionate and dissuasive”.
The level of fines varies greatly across the European Union. In the UK, for instance, infringements can result in fines from £1,000 to £200,000 (€1,120 to €225,000). In Germany its €100 to €50,000 and in Italy, the most recent country to set penalties, its €5,000 to €100,000.
In some member states the fines are much lower. Romania’s proposed fines are on a level with countries like Poland where fines range from PLN600 to PLN30,000 (€140 to €7,000).
Related stories:
EU increases pressure on Romania over F-gas penalties – 12 February 2020
EUROPE: The European Commission has stepped up the pressure on Romania for failing to adopt penalties for breaches of the F-gas regulation 517/2014. Read more…
Italy and Romania face F-gas infringement procedures – 25 July 2019
EUROPE: The European Commission has sent letters of formal notice to Italy and Romania for failing to notify national measures on penalties for infringements of the F-gas regulations. Read more…
