European Commission sets HFC reference values for 2027–2029
HFC producers and importers must place hydrofluorocarbons within the 2027–2029 quota set by their Commission-assigned reference value, or lose lawful market access for the excess
Change
On 22 June 2026 the European Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1382 setting the reference values that will govern 2027–2029 EU quota allocation for each producer or importer that lawfully placed hydrofluorocarbons on the Union market from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024, under Article 17(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573.
Why it matters
The Decision fixes the numeric reference values the Commission will use to allocate quotas for placing HFCs on the Union market in 2027–2029, giving effect to the F-gas phase-down. It treats all undertakings with the same beneficial owner as a single undertaking — summing their individual average quantities — so grouped operators receive one aggregated reference value. For transferred quota, the starting year for the annual-average calculation of the transferred portion is the transferring undertaking's first market-entry year, applied only to that portion; legal successors receive a reference value built from the predecessor's and successor's pre- and post-succession averages. The values apply from 1 January 2027 until 31 December 2029.
Implications
- — Hydrofluorocarbon producers and importers must plan 2027–2029 placing-on-market volumes and quota claims against the reference value the Commission assigns them in Annex I/II — the Commission allocates quota on that basis, so placing HFCs beyond the resulting quota is unlawful market placement.
- — Beneficial owners controlling multiple HFC undertakings must designate a single undertaking and treat the summed individual averages across those undertakings as one aggregated reference value — separately claiming per-entity quota misstates the group's allocation basis.
- — Producers and importers receiving quota transfers must calculate the annual-average starting year for the transferred portion using the transferring undertaking's first EU market-entry year, and apply that rule only to the transferred part while the allocated part follows the general rule — misapplying the starting year distorts the transferred quota.
Who is affected
- — Producers and importers of hydrofluorocarbons placing on the Union market
- — Beneficial owners controlling multiple HFC-placing undertakings
- — Producers and importers receiving HFC quota transfers
What to watch
- — 1 January 2027 — the reference values take effect and govern HFC quota allocation until 31 December 2029.