Meeting with
BASF and
CEFIC,
Ref. Ares(2020)7729037 - 18/12/2020
Online, 5 November 2020, 10h30-11h15
Illegal HFC imports
The chemical industry is concerned about illegal imports of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
i.e. imports without quota under the EU HFC phase-down measures. Such imports risk
undermining their competitiveness. In June 2020, CEFIC announced that HFC illegal
imports in 2018 could be up to 30% on top of the amounts allowed under the HFC phase-
down. This number is often referred to as a ‘precise estimate’, as it represents a ‘worst-
case scenario’, where all data discrepancies between Eurostat data, Chinese export data
and increasing imports into neighbouring countries are assumed to be illegal trade into the
EU. It is highly unlikely that this worst-case scenario is a reality. Since 2019, the
Commission has stepped up action to prevent illegal HFC imports and new data from
2019 (not yet published) indicate much smaller discrepancies
According to OLAF, the biggest loophole regarding illegal imports is the abuse of the
customs transit procedure1 by rogue traders and it constitutes a systemic customs issue.
While TAXUD is looking into the general transit aspects, it may be legally feasible to
impose stricter transit rules specifically for HFCs in the F-gas Regulation review proposal
planned for Q4 2021.
The Commission is currently consulting stakeholders on the review of the F-gas
Regulation. One of the key objectives is to improve implementation and enforcement, and
strengthening obligations of economic operators to prevent illegal trade.
Industry is very active on this issue, and activities to this extent include the engagement of
private investigators and the establishment of a whistle-blower hotline by CEFIC. In
addition, CEFIC has started a campaign where companies publicly pledge that they are
not buying illegally imported HFCs. CEFIC further provides training to interested customs
authorities to combat illegal trade.
Main messages
The Commission fully recognises that an effective enforcement of EU rules is key. It
remains a political priority, as any tonne of HFC imported illegally is one too much.
Since 2019, targeted actions to prevent illegal imports have been taken. The
Commission has in particular focused on:
Rapidly building the IT system ‘
EU Single Window for Customs’, which ensures
controls become more effective.
Insisting clearly with Member States at all levels that good implementation is
needed, including though
dissuasive penalties for illegal activities;
Developing
and
exchanging best practices on how to step up enforcement and
ensure dissuasive penalties for illegal activities.
To tackle this issue it is essential that the Commission, in particular, DGs CLIMA,
TAXUD, GROW and OLAF work together with Member States and industry.
It is also clear that
your efforts to stop illegal imports are playing a significant role.
The Commission is supporting and will continue to support these activities as
complementary to what is done on the authority’s side.
Our concerted actions appear to have been successful, as we see more and more
illegal imports stopped at EU borders.
1 This procedure is employed for goods that are not intended for the EU market but will pass the
EU territory to be exported elsewhere, e.g. a good from China arriving in Rotterdam that is intended
for the Serbian market. The circumvention happens when ‘transit goods’ are nevertheless being
sold in the EU.
Topics for discussion
1/3
Meeting with
BASF and
CEFIC,
Online, 5 November 2020, 10h30-11h15
However, we will not stop here. I am sure you have seen the stakeholder consultation
documents for the
F-gas Regulation review, which highlight that one of the key
objectives is to improve enforcement.
In particular, we are looking at options that can
strengthen customs and surveillance
authorities, and close existing loopholes as much as possible. We will also explore the
possibility of
harmonised minimum penalties, yet it remains to be seen if that is
legally possible. We must keep in mind that Member States have different penalty
systems. At the same time, it should be possible to at least require that certain
infringements of the F-gas Regulation (including illegal imports) are also covered under
national criminal legislation.
Finally, I am happy to note that while some illegal trade is clearly happening, there are
clear signs that the F-gas Regulation’s quota system – the “EU HFC phase-
down” - is working and has significant impacts.
The most obvious sign is a rapid shift towards more climate-friendly technologies in all
sectors using HFCs with high global warming potential in the EU. HFC prices also
continue to increase in the EU compared to the world market, thus promoting green
technologies.
Defensives
What actions has the Commission taken to prevent illegal imports?
Among the actions taken, the Commission:
alerted ministers in the Council in 2019 to step up their enforcement and
completed pilot cases against two Member States regarding their obligation to
have penalties;
funded
a
joint
customs/F-gas expert group, which has developed best practice
guidelines for customs on how to better control import of HFCs;
made
it
a
priority action in the Commission’s antifraud office, OLAF, to focus
on preventing illegal HFC imports;
is building an IT system that will
connect customs all over the EU to DG
CLIMA’s “F-gas Portal & Licensing System” and enable automatic, instead of
manual, customs controls. The first countries will connect in 2021 and the
Commission will propose to make this “Single Window Environment for Customs”
mandatory for Member States this autumn.
Background
The impact of the “EU phase-down”
The EU HFC quota system creates scarcity by restricting the amounts of HFCs (measured
as CO2eq) that can be placed on the market. This led to
very high prices during 2018 (up to 10 times higher than world market). Prices have declined and are now relatively
stable at ca. 3-4 times higher for highly warming HFCs (at gas distributor levels). As price
increases are passed on to the end user, this is still a very significant increase that
promotes a more climate-friendly choice. As a result,
highly warming HFCs have been
replaced in equipment where possible. Furthermore, higher HFC prices also provide an
incentive for users of existing equipment to minimize leakage and recover gases from
equipment.
Extent of illegal activities
Unfortunately, the
higher prices also incentivise illegal imports. This mainly means
imports without quota, often supplied in prohibited non-refillable containers. Illegal imports
are evident, as shown by an increasing number of illegal shipments stopped at customs
and by work done by OLAF as well as a detective agency hired by the chemical industry.
Topics for discussion
2/3