Poland — A Leader in the Fight Against Illegal F-Gas Trading

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions — in particular fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) — has for years been one of the priorities of EU climate policy. A key instrument in this effort is EU Regulation 2024/573, which aims to significantly reduce the impact of these substances on global warming. Implementing the regulations in practice is, however, a major challenge — it requires both modern legal solutions and close cooperation between public authorities and the refrigeration industry.

LEGAL HFC 4 LIFE — a systemic response to illegal refrigerant trading

In response to these challenges, the PROZON Foundation — supported by EU LIFE funding and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management — is implementing the LEGAL HFC 4 LIFE project. Its main objective is to reduce illegal HFC refrigerant emissions by developing an effective model of cooperation between public administration and the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

Project activities include, among others, training for public institution staff and industry representatives, the organisation of expert discussion panels, and wide-ranging awareness campaigns to increase public knowledge.

Discussion panels — an effective tool for implementing regulations

November 2024 was an important milestone for the project — the PROZON Foundation completed a series of 13 discussion panels that brought together representatives of government administration (including the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and the Ministry of Development and Technology) with representatives of the refrigeration industry. Participants were carefully selected to ensure a broad perspective and to discuss the impact of regulations on various sectors of the economy.

All meetings were moderated by the late Prof. Janusz Kozakiewicz — a distinguished expert and long-standing advocate of climate protection efforts. His experience ensured that a balance was maintained between the interests of industry and the requirements of environmental protection.

Each of the 13 meetings addressed a different thematic area — from the personnel certification system, through quota controls, to applications outside the HVACR sector. For example, the panel on certification raised the issue of shortcomings in current regulations, as identified by the Office of Technical Inspection, and the need to standardise training and eliminate training centres focused solely on profit rather than the quality transfer of knowledge.

Practical training — the key to effective law enforcement

The second pillar of the project, alongside the discussion panels, is specialist training. In the first phase, 500 representatives of the refrigeration and air conditioning industry have already been trained. The next stage begins in May 2025 and covers training for staff at public institutions such as customs administration, police and environmental protection inspectorates.

The aim is to improve coordination of activities and raise awareness of the risks associated with illegal HFC trading. As experience shows, current measures are not sufficient — which is why the ongoing engagement and education of key services is so important.

A project that could halt (reduce?) illegal HFC trading across the entire EU

“LEGAL HFC 4 LIFE is an example of effective public-private sector cooperation. It demonstrates that open dialogue and the exchange of knowledge have a real impact on the effectiveness of regulations” — emphasises Krzysztof Grzegorczyk, President of the PROZON Foundation. The project will conclude in Poland in August 2026, but its principles could be transferred to other countries — such as Italy, Romania or Estonia. These are key countries in the context of the main HFC smuggling routes from Eastern to Western Europe.

“This is not just a project for Poland” — adds Grzegorczyk. — “It is a model showing how Europe can act together to reduce illegal emissions and open the path towards a cleaner future.”