Uses of F gas (HFCs) exempt from the phase down
Uses of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) not included in the phase down that do not count towards your quota, and rules on labelling, selling and reporting exempt HFCs.
HFCs are the most common type of fluorinated gas (F gas).
Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is phasing down HFCs, including mixtures, by 79% by 2030. This is compared to the average use of HFCs between 2009 and 2012.
Some HFCs are exempt from the phase down and do not count towards your quota.
Exempt uses of F gas
HFCs are exempt if you import or produce them directly for use:
- as feedstocks (bulk HFCs that are chemically transformed into other substances)
- in military equipment
- in metered dose inhalers for medicines (for example, asthma inhalers)
- to etch semiconductor material (for example, plasma etching)
- to clean chemicals vapour deposition chambers in semiconductor manufacturing
HFCs are also exempt from the phase down if you:
- import them for destruction
- export them and they were never intended to be placed on the market in Great Britain
Labelling exempt F gas
You must label the container of your exempt HFCs. The label must:
- say which exemption the gas will be used for
- meet all other requirements for labelling F gas
Selling exempt F gas to other businesses or organisations
Your HFCs will remain exempt if you sell them directly to the business or organisation carrying out an exempt activity.
They will not be exempt if you sell them to an organisation that is not carrying out exempt activities, even if the HFCs are later used for an exempt activity.
Reporting exempt uses of HFCs
You must report all exempt uses of HFCs you import or produce.
Updates to this page
Published 7 February 2019Last updated 17 January 2024 + show all updates
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Redefined ‘feedstocks’ and which HFC exports are exempt (under ‘Exempt uses of F gas’), and clarified the rules for labelling exempt F gas.
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First published.