International · Laws and regulations
Refrigerant rules by country: laws, leak checks, certificates, HFC taxes and bans
Refrigerant rules in 27 countries and regions side by side: law and authority, leak-check threshold, technician certificate, HFC tax and key GWP bans with dates.
Key points
- In the EU and its member states Regulation (EU) 2024/573 applies directly. National acts add authorities, registers, reporting, taxes and penalties [1][2].
- Norway still applies Regulation 517/2014 via the EEA, Great Britain applies the retained 517/2014, and Switzerland and Turkey have their own F-gas rules [6][21][23][24].
- Denmark, Norway and Spain tax HFCs. Hungary charges an annual supervisory fee, and France repealed its planned HFC tax [5][7][11][13][16].
- Outside Europe the rules differ: the USA uses leak rates and Section 608 certificates, while Latin America, China and India mainly control HFCs through import quotas and licences [25][26][30][40][41].
- This page is a simplified summary. The country article and the official text decide [1].
This page compares the main refrigerant rules in 27 countries and regions, from the EU to Asia-Pacific. Each row is a short extract of the country article in this knowledge base. The tables cover the legal frame and authority, technician certification, the leak-check threshold, taxes or levies on HFCs and the most important GWP bans or service bans with dates.
This is a simplified summary. Exemptions, transitional rules and many details are left out, and the rules change often. The country article and the official text decide, and the authority's website shows what applies today.
How to use the tables
- Find the country under its region. The first table in each region shows the law, the authority and the certificate; the second shows leak checks, taxes and bans.
- "As EU" means that the country follows Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on that point without a national rule of its own [1].
- "–" means that the country article says nothing on that point. It does not mean that there is no rule.
- Where the threshold is in tonnes CO2e, convert the charge first, and read the country article before you plan or quote a job.
EU and EU member states
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 applies directly in all member states. Leak checks start at 5 tonnes CO2e for HFCs and at 1 kg for pure HFOs, and the minimum requirements for certificates are in (EU) 2024/2215 [1][2]. National law adds authorities, registers, reporting, taxes and penalties.
| Country | Legal frame | Authority | Technician certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | Reg. (EU) 2024/573, since 11 Mar 2024 [1] | Commission; national authorities | Persons and companies; minimum rules in 2024/2215 [2] |
| Sweden | 2024/573 + Förordning 2016:1128 [3] | Naturvårdsverket; municipalities supervise [3] | Accredited bodies, e.g. INCERT [3] |
| Denmark | 2024/573 + BEK 1511/2025, stricter [4] | Miljøstyrelsen | KMO: A1, A2, B, C (see article) |
| Finland | 2024/573 + Act 527/2014, Decree 1063/2025 [8] | Syke; Tukes keeps registers | Tukes operating right; 7 years when renewed (see article) |
| Germany | 2024/573 + ChemKlimaschutzV, since 17 Apr 2026 [9] | Länder enforce and certify companies | A1, B, C; old certificates valid to 12 Mar 2029 [9] |
| Austria | 2024/573 + FTG 2009 (still refers to 517/2014) [42] | Federal ministry; Landesinnungen and Bundesinnungen [42][43] | Exam at the Landesinnungen, certificate from the Bundesinnungen (BGBl. II 2/2011) [43] |
| Spain | 2024/573 + RD 115/2017 [10] | Regions (comunidades autónomas) | Regional personal certificates [10] |
| France | 2024/573 + Code de l'environnement R543-75 to R543-123 [12] | Ministry; organismes agréés | Attestation d'aptitude (person), de capacité (company) [12] |
| Italy | 2024/573 + DPR 146/2018 [14] | MASE [14] | F-gas register at the Chambers of Commerce, then certificate [14] |
| Ireland | 2024/573 + S.I. 404/2022 (still refers to 517/2014) [44] | EPA [44] | Certification bodies designated by the Minister [44] |
| Netherlands | 2024/573 + Besluit and Regeling gefluoreerde broeikasgassen | ILT [15] | BRL 200 (person), BRL 100 (company) [15] |
| Hungary | 2024/573 + Act LXXXVII of 2024, Decree 458/2024 [16] | NKVH [16] | Category + certified employer; retraining by 12 Mar 2029 [16] |
| Portugal | 2024/573 + Decreto-Lei 145/2017 [17] | APA [17] | Bodies recognised by APA; companies certified [17] |
| Czechia | 2024/573 + Act 73/2012 Sb. [18] | MŽP (Ministry of the Environment) [18] | MŽP-designated bodies; refresh every 7 years [18] |
| Poland | 2024/573 + F-gas Act of 15 May 2015 [19] | UDT; ministry (CRO, BDS) [19] | UDT personnel and company certificates [19] |
| Romania | 2024/573 + Legea 120/2024 [20] | Ministry of Environment; Garda Națională de Mediu [20] | AGFR (see article) |
| Country | Leak-check threshold | HFC tax or levy | Key bans (dates) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | ≥ 5 t CO2e (HFC); ≥ 1 kg pure HFO [1] | – | Service with GWP ≥ 2,500: refrigeration 2025, AC/HP 2026; GWP 750 from 2032 [1] |
| Sweden | As EU; ≥ 14 t CO2e: notify and report by 31 Mar [3] | – | As EU [1] |
| Denmark | As EU [1] | Per kg, e.g. R134a DKK 295, R404A DKK 807 [5] | HFC banned as a rule; exemptions, e.g. ≤ 5 t CO2e [4] |
| Finland | As EU [1] | – | As EU [1] |
| Germany | As EU + max annual loss 1–8 % [9] | – | As EU [1] |
| Austria | As EU [1] | – | As EU [1]; fines EUR 360–19,000 [42] |
| Spain | As EU [1] | €0.015 per GWP and kg, max €100/kg; GWP ≤ 150 exempt [11] | As EU [1] |
| France | As EU [1] | None; repealed in 2025 [13] | As EU [1] |
| Italy | As EU; work reported to Banca Dati in 30 days [14] | – | As EU [1] |
| Ireland | As EU [1] | – | As EU [1]; fixed payment notices EUR 250–1,000 [44] |
| Netherlands | As EU [1] | – | As EU [1] |
| Hungary | As EU; registration from 5 kg [16] | Annual supervisory fee from 5 kg [16] | As EU [1] |
| Portugal | As EU; report to APA by 31 Mar [17] | – | As EU [1] |
| Czechia | As EU [1] | – | As EU; disposable cylinders banned since 2023 [18] |
| Poland | As EU; CRO record from 5 t CO2e [19] | – | As EU [1] |
| Romania | As EU [1] | – | As EU [1] |
Rest of Europe
Norway, Great Britain, Switzerland and Turkey have rules modelled on the EU, but the thresholds and dates differ. Do not apply EU dates there without checking [6][21][23][24].
| Country | Legal frame | Authority | Technician certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | EEA: 517/2014 via produktforskriften ch. 6a; 2024/573 not yet incorporated [6] | Miljødirektoratet [6] | Person and company certificates, 5 years [6] |
| UK | GB: retained 517/2014 + F-gas Regulations 2015 [21][22]; NI: 2024/573 [1] | – | F-gas certificate, e.g. City & Guilds 2079 [22] |
| Switzerland | ChemRRV SR 814.81, Annex 2.10 [23] | BAFU [23] | Fachbewilligung per area [23] |
| Turkey | Florlu Sera Gazlarına İlişkin Yönetmelik, 2024 [24] | İklim Değişikliği Başkanlığı [24] | Mesleki Yeterlilik Belgesi; company: TSE [24] |
| Country | Leak-check threshold | HFC tax or levy | Key bans (dates) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | ≥ 5 t CO2e (517/2014) [6] | NOK 1.639 × GWP per kg (2026); refund on destruction [7] | Service with GWP ≥ 2,500 in ≥ 40 t CO2e since 2020 [6] |
| UK | ≥ 5 t CO2e; pure HFO not covered [21] | – | Service with GWP ≥ 2,500 in ≥ 40 t CO2e since 2020 [21] |
| Switzerland | > 3 kg or > 5 t CO2e (from 16 Jul 2026); maintenance log and reporting [23] | – | Refill GWP ≥ 2,500: reclaimed only, banned from 2030; new limits 1 Jan 2027 [23] |
| Turkey | ≥ 5 t CO2e; ≥ 500 t every 6 months [24] | – | New GWP ≥ 2,500 refrigeration 2027; service ban 2031 [24] |
Americas
In the Americas there is no CO2e threshold of the EU type. The USA has federal leak-repair rules and certificates, in Canada the provinces regulate the work, and in Latin America HFCs are controlled mainly through import quotas [25][27][29][30][31][32].
| Country | Legal frame | Authority | Technician certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Clean Air Act §608 (40 CFR 82 F); AIM Act (40 CFR 84) [25][26] | EPA [25] | Section 608: Type I, II, III or Universal [25] |
| Canada | SOR/2016-137 (federal) + provincial rules [27] | Federal government and provinces [27] | Provincial, e.g. Ontario certificate [28] |
| Mexico | Kigali Amendment; HFC import quotas [31] | SEMARNAT [31] | Not confirmed |
| Colombia | Res. 0130/2024: quotas [30] | Minambiente; ANLA licence [30] | Not confirmed |
| Chile | DS 7/2024 [29] | Ministry of the Environment [29] | Not confirmed |
| Argentina | Res. 15/2024 and 8/2026: quotas [32][33] | – | Not confirmed |
| Country | Leak-check threshold | HFC tax or levy | Key bans (dates) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Repair above 10/20/30 % per year: ≥ 50 lb ODS, ≥ 15 lb HFC since 2026 [25][26] | – | GWP limits on new equipment; supermarkets and cold stores 2032 [26] |
| Canada | Provincial [28] | – | GWP limits per product, e.g. chillers 750 from 2025 [27] |
| Mexico | – | – | HFC import quotas [31] |
| Colombia | – | – | HFC import quotas and licence [30] |
| Chile | – | – | Some HFCs banned; quotas at 90 % from 2029; HCFC banned from 2030 [29] |
| Argentina | – | – | HFC import quotas [32] |
Asia-Pacific
Australia licenses technicians, Singapore and Japan regulate by product type and operator duties, and China and India mainly control supply through quotas and licences [34][35][37][38][40][41].
| Country | Legal frame | Authority | Technician certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Ozone Protection and SGG Management Act 1989 [34] | DCCEEW; ARC [34][35] | Refrigerant Handling Licence (ARC) [35] |
| New Zealand | Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996 [36] | Ministry for the Environment [36] | – |
| Singapore | EPMA 1999, Part 10A [37] | NEA [37] | – |
| Japan | Fluorocarbon Emission Control Act [38] | MOE and METI; prefectures register [38] | Registered charging and recovery company [38] |
| South Korea | Clean Air Conservation Act [39] | Ministry of Environment | Registered recovery business; trained staff [39] |
| China | ODS Regulations, revised 2024 [40] | MEE [40] | None of EU type found; firms file (备案) [40] |
| India | ODS Rules 2000 [41] | MoEFCC Ozone Cell [41] | No requirement found [41] |
| Country | Leak-check threshold | HFC tax or levy | Key bans (dates) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | – | – | Import of AC with GWP > 750: small split 2024, multi-split and VRF 2025 [34] |
| New Zealand | – | – | HFC import permits since 2020 [36] |
| Singapore | – | – | Split AC GWP ≤ 750 (2022); central commercial refrigeration 150 (2027) [37] |
| Japan | Simple inspection every 3 months; periodic from 7.5 kW [38] | – | See article |
| South Korea | ≥ 20 RT: check at least yearly [39] | – | See article |
| China | – | – | HFC production and import quotas [40]; no sales to individuals, installers must file (MEE notice, from 1 Mar 2026) [45] |
| India | – | – | HCFC in new equipment banned since 2025 [41] |
Calculate it yourself
Terms in this article
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases – EUR-Lex
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 – certification, stationary refrigeration, AC and heat pumps – EUR-Lex
- Naturvårdsverket – Fluorerade växthusgaser
- Retsinformation – BEK nr 1511 af 01/12/2025 om regulering af visse industrielle drivhusgasser
- Skatteministeriet – Satser: Cfc-afgiftsloven
- Miljødirektoratet – Fluorholdige gasser (f-gass)
- Skatteetaten – Excise duties: HFC and PFC
- Valtioneuvoston asetus 1063/2025 fluorattuja kasvihuonekaasuja, otsonikerrosta heikentäviä aineita tai vaihtoehtoisia kylmäaineita sisältävien laitteiden käsittelystä – Finlex
- Chemikalien-Klimaschutzverordnung (ChemKlimaschutzV) 2026 – Gesetze im Internet
- BOE – Real Decreto 115/2017, de 17 de febrero (gases fluorados, certificación de profesionales), texto consolidado
- BOE – Ley 16/2013, de medidas en materia de fiscalidad medioambiental (art. 5, modificado por Ley 14/2022), texto consolidado
- Légifrance – Code de l'environnement, articles R543-75 à R543-123 (fluides frigorigènes)
- SNEFCCA – Suppression de la taxe HFC confirmée par la loi de finances
- MASE – D.P.R. n. 146/2018 recante attuazione del Regolamento (UE) n. 517/2014
- Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT) – Certificaten voor werken met F-gassen en ozonlaagafbrekende stoffen
- Nemzeti Klímavédelmi Hatóság – A 2025. március 1-jétől hatályba lépő hazai klímagáz (F-gáz) szabályozás
- Diário da República – Decreto-Lei n.º 145/2017, de 30 de novembro (gases fluorados com efeito de estufa)
- Zákony pro lidi – Zákon č. 73/2012 Sb., o látkách, které poškozují ozonovou vrstvu, a o fluorovaných skleníkových plynech
- ISAP (Sejm) – Ustawa z dnia 15 maja 2015 r. o substancjach zubożających warstwę ozonową oraz o niektórych fluorowanych gazach cieplarnianych (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 881; t.j. Dz.U. 2020 poz. 2065)
- Portal Legislativ – Legea nr. 120/2024 privind stabilirea cadrului instituțional și a unor măsuri pentru punerea în aplicare a managementului gazelor fluorurate cu efect de seră
- Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 as retained in Great Britain – legislation.gov.uk
- The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/310) – legislation.gov.uk
- Fedlex – Chemikalien-Risikoreduktions-Verordnung (ChemRRV), SR 814.81
- İklim Değişikliği Başkanlığı – Florlu Sera Gazlarına İlişkin Yönetmelik (RG 32693, 15.10.2024), full text
- 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F – Recycling and Emissions Reduction (Section 608) – eCFR
- 40 CFR Part 84 – Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons (AIM Act) – eCFR
- Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (SOR/2016-137) – Justice Laws Website
- Ontario – Certificate to handle refrigerants
- Diario Oficial de Chile no. 44.424 (14 April 2026) – Decreto 7/2024, Ministerio Secretaría General de la Presidencia (importaciones y exportaciones de sustancias controladas)
- Minambiente and MinCIT – Resolución 0130 de 2024 (7 February 2024), importación de sustancias del Anexo F del Protocolo de Montreal
- SEMARNAT – Trámite SEMARNAT-2020-071-002-A (cuotas de importación de HFC)
- Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina – Resolución 8/2026, Jefatura de Gabinete de Ministros (cuotas de importación 2026)
- Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina – Resolución 15/2024, Ministerio del Interior (cupos de importación de sustancias controladas)
- DCCEEW (Australia) – New rules for cleaner cooling from 1 July 2025
- Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) – licences and authorisations
- Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand) – Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
- National Environment Agency (NEA) – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the use of refrigerants in the RAC sector
- 環境省・経済産業省 – フロン排出抑制法 FAQ (updated March 2026)
- 국가법령정보센터 (law.go.kr) – 대기환경보전법 시행규칙 (Enforcement Rule), Articles 124-6 ff. and Annexes 35-2 and 35-3
- Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) – 消耗臭氧层物质管理条例 (Regulations on the Administration of Ozone Depleting Substances), current text (October 2026)
- Ozone Cell, MoEFCC – The Gazette of India Notification (ODS Rules, 2000) and its schedules
- RIS – Fluorierte Treibhausgase-Gesetz 2009 (FTG 2009), BGBl. I Nr. 103/2009
- RIS – Verordnung über Qualifizierungs- und Zertifizierungsmaßnahmen für Kälte- und Klimaanlagen sowie Wärmepumpen, BGBl. II Nr. 2/2011
- Irish Statute Book – S.I. No. 404/2022, European Union (Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases) Regulations 2022
- Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) – 关于进一步加强消耗臭氧层物质和氢氟碳化物管理的通知 环大气〔2026〕8号 (notice of 9 February 2026, in force 1 March 2026)