REFRIGERANTS
UK to tighten grip on refrigerants and chemicals
Hans Craen
"The fi rst phase will apply to
permitted or licensed waste receiving sites, requiring them to record all waste received.
Around 12,000 operators fall within scope, with carriers, brokers
and dealers expected to be brought into the system at a later stage."
The UK is reshaping its environmental and chemicals management regime, with farreaching consequences for the RACHP sector, chemical producers, waste operators and compliance teams. A steeper Fgas phasedown, a national strategy on PFAS, and the rollout of mandatory digital waste tracking all point to stricter lifecycle oversight of refrigerants and associated products. Hans Craen, Head of Government Aff airs Europe at A-Gas, examines what these shifts mean for refrigerants, PFAS and waste compliance.
T
he UK’s evolving regulatory landscape is not just about restriction; it is about transformation. As the F-Gas phasedown accelerates, PFAS scrutiny increases, and
waste tracking becomes digitised, the industry must adapt to a model centred on effi ciency, traceability, and environmental responsibility. Defra launched a consultation last year proposing a
signifi cant change to the GB FGas Regulation, signalling what could become the most ambitious HFC phasedown in the UK to date. Published on 5 November 2025, the consultation focuses exclusively on revising the HFC quota schedule for England, Scotland, and Wales, while Northern Ireland continues to follow EU rules. Defra’s preferred ‘highambition’ pathway would signifi cantly
accelerate the phasedown, compared to the current GB target of 79% reduction by 2030, with 83.8% reduction in HFC quotas by 2027 (vs baseline), and 98.6% reduction by 2048. Alongside this preferred trajectory, Defra was also seeking feedback on three alternative pathways: a ‘mediumambition’ phasedown, alignment with the EU’s full phaseout by 2050, and a ‘most challenging’ scenario involving steeper early reductions. The consultation does not address the enabling conditions
required to support such a shift, particularly scaling up recovery, reclamation and reuse infrastructure, expanding technician training and certifi cation, and introducing market stability mechanisms. Without these, a constrained supply of virgin refrigerants could lead to signifi cant price volatility (as seen during previous EU phasedown steps), increased use of
14 May 2026 •
www.acr-news.com
poor-quality or improperly recycled refrigerant, and a higher risk of illegal imports, an issue that continues to aff ect the EU market signifi cantly. The sector is now awaiting the Government’s response, originally expected in early 2026. With a proposed January 2027 implementation, clarity is urgently needed to support investment and compliance planning.
The UK’s PFAS strategy In February 2026, the UK Government published its long- term plan for managing per- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. Rather than adopting a broad ban approach (as proposed in the EU), the UK is pursuing a risk-based framework, aiming to balance environmental and public health protection, industrial and
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