Hungary: refrigerant rules – climate gas act, NKVH certification and supervisory fee

The EU regulation applies directly, Hungarian law complements it

The EU Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases applies directly in Hungary ^[1]. The requirements for leak checks, records, recovery and the EU bans on new products and servicing come from there. Leak checks are required for systems with 5 tonnes CO2e or more, and 10 tonnes CO2e for hermetically sealed systems ^[1]. After a leak has been repaired, the system must be checked again within one month ^[1].

The Hungarian framework entered into force on 1 March 2025 ^[6]. It has three parts:

The competent authority is Nemzeti Klímavédelmi Hatóság (NKVH, National Climate Protection Authority) ^[3]. Hungarian rules use the word klímagáz (climate gas). Under the EU implementing regulation (EU) 2024/2215, certification is also required for alternative refrigerants such as CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbons ^[4][8].

The database: Klímagáz Adatbázis

NKVH runs a national database (Klímagáz Adatbázis) where companies, persons, equipment and interventions are registered ^[2][3]:

• The operator registers equipment that is subject to registration. The certified company enters the equipment's technical data ^[3].
• Leak checks may only be done by a certified person with the right category, employed by a certified company ^[3].
• A leak is documented in a report that the certified company's employee enters in the database ^[3].
• NKVH may on its own initiative delete unlawful entries and add missing ones, and then notifies the party concerned ^[3].

Certification of companies and persons

A company, including a sole trader, may only work with climate gases if it holds a certificate from NKVH. The certificate is issued once the company is registered in the database and the authority has accepted the company's declaration of conformity ^[3].

A person may install, commission, service, repair, decommission, leak check and recover refrigerant only as an employee of a certified company and with the category the decree requires ^[3]. Training and exams are booked through the NKVH database ^[4].

With 1/2025 EM rendelet the company categories HR-I, HR-II, MR-I and MR-II were replaced by two combined categories: HR for stationary systems and MR for mobile systems ^[4]. The personal categories H-I and H-II remain for stationary refrigeration. Which category is needed for which work, and which prior training is required, is set out in the annexes of the decree ^[4].

Validity, retraining and continuing training

• Certificates obtained with a Hungarian exam under the older EU Regulation 517/2014 require retraining (átképzés). The last day to take part is 12 March 2029 ^[5].
• Without retraining the certificate expires at the end of its validity, but on 12 March 2029 at the latest ^[4].
• Validities that end between 1 March 2025 and 30 December 2027 are extended to 31 December 2027 ^[5].
• Certificates obtained after 1 March 2025 are renewed through continuing training (továbbképzés). Two trainings in the five years before expiry give a five-year extension ^[5].

Supervisory fee and fines

Owners and operators of refrigeration circuits containing at least 5 kg of the climate gases listed in the act's annex must register in the database and pay an annual klímavédelmi felügyeleti díj (climate protection supervisory fee) ^[2][6]. The fee is paid in two equal instalments in arrears, by 30 September and 31 March. Anyone starting mid-period pays for the time the equipment is in operation ^[2].

If the fee is not paid, NKVH can restrict the company's activity in the database ^[2]. The amount depends on the charge and the refrigerant. Check current amounts with NKVH.

NKVH can fine anyone who breaches the climate gas rules or the authority's decisions ^[2]. Fixed fine amounts are set in the decree's annex. Failure to comply with a decision can be fined HUF 10,000–1,000,000, and repeated breaches raise the fine to 150 % of the fixed amount ^[3]. Paying a fine does not remove criminal or civil liability ^[2].

Changes 2024–2026

• 11 March 2024: the EU Regulation 2024/573 started to apply ^[1].
• 1 March 2025: the act on climate gases, government decree 458/2024 and ministerial decree 1/2025 entered into force ^[6].
• 31 December 2025: government decree 490/2025 amended 458/2024 in line with EU implementing regulation (EU) 2025/1893 on training for mobile equipment. Non-refillable containers may only be stored or transported for final disposal and must carry a label generated from the database. Consolidated version dated 2 February 2026 ^[7].
• 1 February 2026: amendments to 1/2025 EM rendelet on retraining and continuing training entered into force ^[5].

Practical checklist

1. Check that the company holds a valid NKVH certificate in the right category (HR or MR) ^[3][4].
2. Check that every technician has the right personal category and plan retraining before 12 March 2029 ^[4][5].
3. Enter equipment data and leak reports in Klímagáz Adatbázis ^[3].
4. Convert the charge to tonnes CO2e for the EU leak check requirements, and check again within one month after a repair ^[1].
5. Remind operators of circuits with at least 5 kg about registration and the supervisory fee ^[2].