The Environment Agency (fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances) charging scheme 2025
Published 1 April 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fluorinated-greenhouse-gases-and-ozone-depleting-substances-charging-scheme/the-environment-agency-fluorinated-greenhouse-gases-and-ozone-depleting-substances-charging-scheme-2025
The Environment Agency in exercise of its powers under section 41 of the Environment Act 1995, and with the approval of the Secretary of State and the consent of the Treasury, makes the following Charging Scheme.
Part 1: General
1. Commencement, extent and citation
This Charging Scheme shall:
(a) be referred to as the Environment Agency (Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases and Ozone-Depleting Substances) Charging Scheme 2025 (”this Scheme”)
(b) extend to England, Wales and Scotland,
(c) come into force on 1 April 2025, and
(d) remain in force until revoked.
2. Interpretation: general
In this Scheme:
“Agency” means the Environment Agency;
3. Liability to pay charge
The following persons shall be liable to pay the charges under this Scheme:
(a) in respect of an application charge, the person making an application under either paragraph 8 or paragraph 11 of this Scheme;
(b) in respect of a declaration charge, the person making a declaration under paragraph 12;
(c) in respect of a subsistence charge, the person who is registered under either paragraph 9 or paragraph 13.
4. Time of payment
Charges payable under this Scheme shall be due and payable in full at the following times on or after the 1st April 2025:
(a) in the case of an application charge, on the date of making of that application;
(b) in the case of a declaration charge, on the date of making of that declaration;
(c) in any other case, on demand.
5. Abatement of charges
The Agency may, by notice, waive or reduce any charge specified in this Scheme if it considers it to be significantly disproportionate in a particular case, having regard to the actual costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by the Agency in relation to a particular application, declaration or subsistence period.
6. Inflation
Charges made under this Scheme shall increase on 1 April 2026 and annually thereafter on 1 April in each subsequent year, by a sum not exceeding any increase in the Consumer Prices Index published by the Office for National Statistics on 30 September in the immediately preceding year.
Part 2: Fluorinated greenhouse gases
7. Interpretation
In this Part:
“the Regulation” means Regulation (EU) no 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council[footnote 1] on fluorinated greenhouse gases:
and expressions used in this Part have the same meaning as in the Regulation;
“the GB FGas Service” means the register established for Great Britain under article 17 of the Regulation and administered by the Agency, and references in article 17 to “the Registry” shall be read as meaning the GB FGas Service.
8. F-Gas application charge
(1) An charge is payable for an application in accordance with article 14 of the Regulation to register to use the GB FGas Service for any full or part financial year, for the purposes listed in points (a) to (f) of the second sub paragraph of article 15(2), article 16(2), article 16(5) or article 18 of the Regulation.
(2) The charge is £364.
9. Subsistence charge
(1) An annual subsistence charge is payable by those who are registered to use the GB FGas Service and are required to submit an annual report in accordance with paragraphs (1) to (4) of article 19 of the Regulation.
(2) The annual subsistence charge is £1,228.
Part 3: Ozone-depleting substances
10. Interpretation
In this Part:
“the Regulation” means Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council[footnote 1] on substances that deplete the ozone layer;
expressions used in this Part have the same meaning as in the Regulation;
“the GB Ozone Depleting Substances Service” means the register, reporting and licencing system referred to in articles 10(4), 10(6),18 and 27 of the Regulation and administered by the Agency and:
(a) the requirement in article 10(4) for users to register with the appropriate regulator means registration with the GB Ozone Depleting Substances Service.
(b) references in article 18 to “the electronic licencing system” shall be read as meaning the GB Ozone Depleting Substances Service;
(c) the requirement in article 27 to communicate annual reports is a requirement to report to the GB Ozone Depleting Substances Service;
11. Ozone Depleting Substances application charge
The following charges are payable for the relevant applications:
| Application | Charge |
|---|---|
| Application for registration by an undertaking for use of controlled substances for essential laboratory and other analytical work in accordance with article 10(4) of the Regulation. | £476 |
| Application for registration by an undertaking for the production, placing on the market or use of controlled substances as feedstock in accordance with article 7 of the Regulation. | £258 |
| Application for registration by an undertaking for the production or placing on the market of controlled substances for essential laboratory or other analytical work in accordance with article 10(4). | £258 |
| Application for registration by an undertaking for placing on the market or for use of halons for critical uses in accordance with article 13 of the Regulation | £258 |
| Application for registration by an undertaking intending to apply for an import or export licence in accordance with article 18(2) of the Regulation. | £258 |
| Application for a licence to import or export controlled substances or products or equipment containing or relying on controlled substances (other than halons contained in products and equipment for critical uses on aircraft) in accordance with article 18(2) of the Regulation. | £72 |
| Application for a licence to import or export halons or products or equipment containing or relying on halons for critical uses on aircraft in accordance with article 18(2) of the Regulation. | £124 |
12. Declaration charge
(1) A declaration charge is payable in relation to a declaration of anticipated demand made to the GB Ozone Depleting Substances Service by an importer in accordance with article 16(2) of the Regulation.
(2) The declaration charge is £269.
13. Subsistence charge
(1) An annual subsistence charge is payable by those who are registered and:
(a) required to submit an annual report under article 27; or
(b) hold a licence issued under article 18(2) of the Regulation during the period 1 January and 31 December.
(2) The annual subsistence charge is £1,072.