SGS Announces EU Will Reduce Emissions of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases from Electronic and Electrical Products
On 12 March 2014 the European Parliament (1) had a final vote on the proposal for a stronger regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases). As a consequence, a tighter legislation will shortly be published which affects refrigerators and freezers containing F-gases. It is expected that placing on the EU market would be prohibited starting from 1 January 2015.
New Taipei City, Taiwan, April 25, 2014 --(PR.com)-- F-gases are powerful contributors to global warming as they act as strong greenhouse gases. The six major greenhouse gases (2) are as follows:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
F-Gases – Substitutes for Ozone-Depleting Substances
F-gases are a family of man-made gases, such as HFCs, PFCs and SF6, with a global warming effect up to 23,000 times greater than CO2. Because these fluorinated gases do not damage the atmospheric ozone layer, they are often used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). As fluorinated combined with other halogenated gases, ODS are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol and EU legislation (3).
F-gases are still used in several types of appliances. Some possible applications (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/index_en.htm) can be found in the Table 1 within the latest SafeGuards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-05814-eu-reducing-emissions-f-gases-a4-en-14.pdf).
EU Legislations on F-Gases
Current EU legislation on F-gases (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/legislation/docs/com_2012_643_en.pdf) consists of two main legislative acts:
1. Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 focusing on preventing leakage during use (containment) and at the end of the life of (mostly) stationary equipment and on a limited number of F-gas bans on narrowly defined niche applications (the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation).
2. Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council introducing restrictions on the use of F-gases with global warming potential (GWP) of more than 150 in the air-conditioning systems of new motor vehicles (the MAC Directive).
Since the emission of F-gases is rising strongly, the European Commission proposed a law in year 2012 to cut F-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. In addition, on 16 December 2013 the European Union reached a tentative agreement (http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/eu-reaches-deal-cap-super-warmin-news-532386) on limiting the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases in refrigerators and air conditioners. According to the result of vote, the new proposal (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/envi/dv/f-g_934092/f-g_934092en.pdf) passed on 12 March 2014. If the proposal was published, the following products in Table 2 within the above-mentioned SafeGuards bulletin containing F-gases placed on the EU market would be prohibited starting from 1 January 2015, leaving only a short phase-out period for the industry to follow the requirements and find alternatives.
References:
(1) European Parliament Final Vote (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fNONSGML%2bPV%2b20140312%2bRES-VOT%2bDOC%2bPDF%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN)
(2) Greenhouse Gases (http://www.epa.ie/air/airenforcement/ozone/fluorinatedgreenhousegases/)
(3) ODSs Legislations (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ozone/documentation_en.htm)
About SGS Electrical and Electronics Services
SGS is committed to keeping readers up to date on the latest regulations and policies concerning the use of hazardous substances in consumer products. Furthermore, through its global expertise and network of chemical laboratories, SGS can provide support in ensuring that products comply with relevant hazardous substances requirements on all relevant markets around the world. Whether for hazardous substances testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Electrical-and-Electronics/Audio-Video-and-Household-Appliances/RoHS/RoHS-Testing.aspx) or other third party verification, certification or inspection services, SGS is ideally positioned to satisfy all business's needs.
Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts for further information.
Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Richie Chang
Supervisor
125, Wu Kung Road
New Taipei Industrial Park, Wu Ku District
New Taipei City
24886, Taiwan
t: +886 2 22993279 Ext. 3136
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/ee
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
F-Gases – Substitutes for Ozone-Depleting Substances
F-gases are a family of man-made gases, such as HFCs, PFCs and SF6, with a global warming effect up to 23,000 times greater than CO2. Because these fluorinated gases do not damage the atmospheric ozone layer, they are often used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). As fluorinated combined with other halogenated gases, ODS are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol and EU legislation (3).
F-gases are still used in several types of appliances. Some possible applications (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/index_en.htm) can be found in the Table 1 within the latest SafeGuards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-05814-eu-reducing-emissions-f-gases-a4-en-14.pdf).
EU Legislations on F-Gases
Current EU legislation on F-gases (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/legislation/docs/com_2012_643_en.pdf) consists of two main legislative acts:
1. Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 focusing on preventing leakage during use (containment) and at the end of the life of (mostly) stationary equipment and on a limited number of F-gas bans on narrowly defined niche applications (the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation).
2. Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council introducing restrictions on the use of F-gases with global warming potential (GWP) of more than 150 in the air-conditioning systems of new motor vehicles (the MAC Directive).
Since the emission of F-gases is rising strongly, the European Commission proposed a law in year 2012 to cut F-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. In addition, on 16 December 2013 the European Union reached a tentative agreement (http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/eu-reaches-deal-cap-super-warmin-news-532386) on limiting the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases in refrigerators and air conditioners. According to the result of vote, the new proposal (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/envi/dv/f-g_934092/f-g_934092en.pdf) passed on 12 March 2014. If the proposal was published, the following products in Table 2 within the above-mentioned SafeGuards bulletin containing F-gases placed on the EU market would be prohibited starting from 1 January 2015, leaving only a short phase-out period for the industry to follow the requirements and find alternatives.
References:
(1) European Parliament Final Vote (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2f%2fEP%2f%2fNONSGML%2bPV%2b20140312%2bRES-VOT%2bDOC%2bPDF%2bV0%2f%2fEN&language=EN)
(2) Greenhouse Gases (http://www.epa.ie/air/airenforcement/ozone/fluorinatedgreenhousegases/)
(3) ODSs Legislations (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ozone/documentation_en.htm)
About SGS Electrical and Electronics Services
SGS is committed to keeping readers up to date on the latest regulations and policies concerning the use of hazardous substances in consumer products. Furthermore, through its global expertise and network of chemical laboratories, SGS can provide support in ensuring that products comply with relevant hazardous substances requirements on all relevant markets around the world. Whether for hazardous substances testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Electrical-and-Electronics/Audio-Video-and-Household-Appliances/RoHS/RoHS-Testing.aspx) or other third party verification, certification or inspection services, SGS is ideally positioned to satisfy all business's needs.
Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts for further information.
Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Richie Chang
Supervisor
125, Wu Kung Road
New Taipei Industrial Park, Wu Ku District
New Taipei City
24886, Taiwan
t: +886 2 22993279 Ext. 3136
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/ee
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.
Contact
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Richie Chang
+886 2 22993279
www.sgs.com/ee
125, Wu Kung Road
New Taipei Industrial Park, Wu Ku District
New Taipei City
24886, Taiwan
Richie Chang
+886 2 22993279
www.sgs.com/ee
125, Wu Kung Road
New Taipei Industrial Park, Wu Ku District
New Taipei City
24886, Taiwan
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