Romania: refrigerant rules – Legea 120/2024, AGFR certificates and enforcement

The EU regulation applies directly

Romania is an EU member. Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases therefore applies directly, without national transposition ^[1]. The requirements for leak checks, records, recovery, certification and the EU bans come from it. We have found no sourced national charge limits for refrigeration and heat pump systems that are stricter than the EU rules.

Leak checks are required from 5 tonnes CO2e, and from 10 tonnes CO2e for hermetically sealed systems ^[1]:

Systems with 500 tonnes CO2e or more must have a leak detection system ^[1]. After a leak has been repaired, the system must be checked again within one month ^[1]. Records are kept for at least five years ^[1]. Since 1 January 2025, virgin F-gases with a GWP of 2,500 or more may not be used to service any refrigeration system; military equipment and equipment cooling products below −50 °C are exempt. Recycled or reclaimed refrigerant may be used until the end of 2029 ^[1].

The national law: Legea nr. 120/2024

Legea nr. 120/2024 privind stabilirea cadrului instituțional și a unor măsuri pentru punerea în aplicare a managementului gazelor fluorurate cu efect de seră (law on the institutional framework and measures for managing fluorinated greenhouse gases) was adopted on 30 April 2024 and published in Monitorul Oficial no. 414 on 7 May 2024 ^[2]. The law was written for the former Regulation (EU) No 517/2014. Under 2024/573, references to the old regulation are to be read as references to the new one ^[1][2].

The law divides responsibility as follows ^[2]:

• Ministerul Mediului, Apelor și Pădurilor (Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests) coordinates implementation and is the competent authority ^[2].
• Garda Națională de Mediu (National Environmental Guard) inspects, establishes infringements and issues fines ^[2].
• Autoritatea Vamală Română (Romanian Customs Authority) checks imports and exports of F-gases ^[2].
• The police (Inspectoratul General al Poliției Române) investigate criminal offences, for example illegal import without a quota ^[2].

Fines and offences

Breaches of the F-gas rules are administrative offences (contravenții) with fines of 15,000–30,000 lei for individuals and 50,000–100,000 lei for legal entities ^[2]. This covers, among other things, operators who do not meet the leak check requirements ^[2]. Illegal import, that is placing HFC on the market without a quota or above the quota, can be a criminal offence punished with day-fines ^[2].

Certification: AGFR

By Ordinul nr. 2682/2011 the Ministry of Environment designated AGFR (Asociația Generală a Frigotehniștilor din România, the Romanian refrigeration technicians' association) as the certification body for personnel and companies working with F-gases in stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment ^[4]. AGFR is also a training and evaluation centre ^[4][5].

Certificates issued by AGFR under the old rules were valid for four years. In 2024 AGFR sent out a notice about renewal, because the certificates from 2020 were expiring ^[5]. The new Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 replaces Regulation 2015/2067 and sets the minimum requirements for certificates for persons and companies ^[6].

Under 2024/573, certified persons must attend refresher training at least every seven years. Holders of a certificate under the old rules must complete refresher training or a new evaluation by 12 March 2029 at the latest ^[1]. Certification now also covers alternatives to F-gases, such as CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbons ^[1][6].

Pressure equipment: ISCIR

Pressure installations are governed by Legea nr. 64/2008 on the safe operation of pressure installations, lifting equipment and fuel-burning appliances. The supervisory authority is ISCIR (Inspecția de Stat pentru Controlul Cazanelor, Recipientelor sub Presiune și Instalațiilor de Ridicat, the State Inspection for Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Lifting Installations) ^[7]. The law requires authorisation before operation and periodic inspections. The technical details are in ISCIR's technical prescriptions (prescripții tehnice), approved by ministerial order ^[7][8].

In 2025 ISCIR updated several prescriptions, including PT CR 4-2025 on the authorisation of companies and PT CR 8-2025 on the authorisation of operating personnel ^[8]. Check with ISCIR which prescriptions apply to your specific installation, for example for pressure vessels and piping.

Changes 2024–2026

• 11 March 2024: the EU Regulation 2024/573 entered into force ^[1].
• 7 May 2024: Law 120/2024 was published in Monitorul Oficial ^[2].
• 6 September 2024: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 on certification was adopted and replaces 2015/2067 ^[6].
• 1 January 2025: ban on virgin F-gases with GWP 2,500 or more for servicing any refrigeration system ^[1].
• 23 April 2026: the Ministry of Environment put a new draft F-gas law out for consultation, with a ten-day comment period. The draft is to align the national rules and penalties with 2024/573 ^[3]. Check whether the law has been adopted.

Practical checklist

1. Convert the charge to tonnes CO2e to get the right leak check interval ^[1].
2. Check again within one month after each leak repair, and enter the result in the records ^[1].
3. Make sure both the technician and the company hold a valid AGFR certificate and that old certificates are renewed in time ^[1][5].
4. Do not use virgin F-gases with GWP 2,500 or more to service any refrigeration system ^[1].
5. Check ISCIR's requirements for authorisation and periodic inspection of pressure parts ^[7][8].
6. Follow the new draft law from 2026, since the authorities' responsibilities and the penalties may change ^[3].