Suspended sentence for illegally importing R22

BULGARIA: A Macedonian national has received a suspended six month prison sentence and a fine of around €500.00 for attempting to import the banned ozone-depleting refrigerant R22 into Bulgaria.

The unnamed 50-year-old man was accused of attempting to import 40 13.6kg cylinders of R22 after being stopped at the border crossing point in Gueshevo, on the Bulgarian border with Macedonia, in March.

Last week, the judge at the Kyustendil District Court sentenced the man to 6-months imprisonment, suspended for three years, plus a fine of  BGN1000 (€500.00). 

The use of virgin HCFC R22 has been banned in Europe since January 1 2010, with the refrigerant being completely banned, ie including all recycled and reclaimed R22, since January 1 2015.