Potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are being smuggled into the UK via Eastern Europe to run old machinery, a BBC investigation has found.

HFCs are used in air conditioners, aerosol sprays, fridges and fire suppression systems, but can be thousands of times worse for the Earth than carbon dioxide.

The EU, UK and the US have all been pressing to limit their use, with the end goal of phasing them out entirely in favour of more environmentally-friendly alternatives. 

The UK wants to reduce HFC usage by 69% by 2024. Registered firms only with an F-Gas certificate are allowed to use, import or sell HFCs.

Smugglers have been selling illegally distributed goods via social media, creating a black market that is worth many millions of pounds.

BBC claims that HFCs made in China sneak into Eastern Europe by way of lorries or in cars’ boots, where they are then sold to UK customers.

A trader claimed that to get the canisters to Britain on their final leg, he had to bribe bus drivers so they would transport them in passenger coach luggage.

This method, the man told the BBC, had previously enabled him to smuggle 50–80 canisters in one go across Europe from the Romania–Ukraine border into Germany.  

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Potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are being smuggled into the UK via Eastern Europe to run old machinery, a BBC investigation has found

A BBC investigation found that potent greenhouse gasses known as hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, are being illegally smuggled in the UK through Eastern Europe. This is to power old machines.

HFCs are used in air conditioners , aerosol sprays, fridges and fire suppression systems, but can be thousands of times worse for the Earth than carbon dioxide. The EU, UK and the US have all been pressing to limit their use, with the end goal of phasing them out entirely in favour of more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Pictured: canisters of HFCs

Although HFCs can cause thousands more damage to the Earth than carbon dioxide, they are commonly used in fridges, fire suppression systems and aerosol sprays. The EU, UK and the US have all been pressing to limit their use, with the end goal of phasing them out entirely in favour of more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Image: HFC canisters

According to the BBC, HFCs produced in China are secreted into Eastern Europe via lorries and in the boots of cars, from where they are sold to buyers in the UK. To get the canisters across the final leg to Britain, one trader recommended bribing bus drivers to transport them in the luggage compartments of passenger coaches

BBC claims that HFCs from China are secreted in Eastern Europe through lorries or in the boot of vehicles, where they can be sold to UK buyers. A trader advised bribing bus drivers in order to get the canisters over the final leg to Britain.

Illegal Trade of HFCs

According to an Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) report issued back in July, illegal trade is estimated to make up some 20–30 per cent of the whole European HFC market.

EIA senior campaigner Fin Walravens told BBC News that while the illegal HFC trade was generally unknown to the public, the potential for ‘huge profits’ made it a ‘very attractive’  prospect for criminal enterprise.

This agency called on customs enforcement agencies and other authorities to clamp down against the trafficking of potent greenhouse gases.

Hydrofluorocarbons are odourless and colourless man-made organic compounds that contain both fluorine and hydrogen atoms.

They became widely adopted — especially as refrigerants — as replacements for ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), after the latter were phased out in the wake of the signing of the so-called Montreal protocol in 1987. 

While HFCs did a better job of protecting Earth’s protective ozone layer from ultraviolet radiation, scientists discovered that some forms are several orders-of-magnitude more effective at trapping heat within the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. 

This led to several proposals to eliminate their use.

In its undercover investigation, the BBC travelled to the border between Romania and Ukraine, having discovered ‘scores’ of online adverts for canisters of HFCs posted by local traders.

Meeting one — who they refer to as ‘George’ — on a quiet countryside road near to the border crossing, they were shown two canisters available for around £100 each, but that would end up going for as much as £240 each on the UK black market.

Pictured: an example of an F-Gas certificate needed to legally import, sell or use HFCs

An example of an F–Gas Certificate is shown to legally import, use or sell HFCs.

In contrast, the canisters themselves are produced and filled with HFCs in China for what equates to as little as £30.

The trader was asked by the reporter how many canisters he could buy in total. He replied, “100 for sure. 150-180 bottles maybe.”

In the UK, the BBC found out that HFC canisters are openly being sold by HFC vendors on Facebook Marketplace.

A trader located in London’s north met the BBC and they purchased 2 units of refrigerant. They were not licensed to handle HFCs.

These were in disposable canisters that have been banned since 2006. 

According to an Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) report issued back in July, illegal trade is estimated to make up some 20–30 per cent of the whole European HFC market. Pictured: an EIA map of potential trade routes for illegal HFCs entering the European Union

According to an Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) report issued back in July, illegal trade is estimated to make up some 20–30 per cent of the whole European HFC market. Below is an EIA map showing potential routes of illegal HFCs entering Europe.

Back in the UK, the BBC team found that HFC cannisters are being openly advertised for sale on the Facebook Marketplace by vendors across the nation. Meeting one trader based in the north of London, who was not registered to handle HFCs, the BBC purchased two units of refrigerant for cash (later taking them to a legitimate supplier for safe disposal). Both were provided in disposable canisters, which have been illegal since 2006

HFC cannisters have been openly offered for sale in the UK by HFC vendors. One trader from the north of London was not licensed to deal with HFCs. The BBC bought two units of refrigerant and later took them to a legal supplier to dispose of. The two units were delivered in disposable canisters which, since 2006, have been considered illegal.

Rob Parker (European operations director at A-Gas, a legitimate supplier of hydrofluorocarbons), stated that some people view the illegal HFC trading as a victimless crime because nobody is hurt.

But he said, “The profits from this almost certainly will be going back to organised crime where it’ll be used in much darker activities.”

He stated that “Ultimately, global warming may increase because regulation has not been enforced,” he said.

In response, the UK Environment Agency told BBC News that it was ‘firmly committed to ensuring that businesses comply with regulations to reduce emissions from HFCs, and will take strict enforcement action where necessary.’

Back in September, the agency fined the London-based firm IMO Gas Supplies Ltd a total of £1 million for seven different regulation breaches — exceeding the quotas of gas it was allowed to put on the market — over the course of just two years.

However, this is reportedly only the second time that Environment Agency has imposed fines on a UK firm from breaking the regulations.

HYDROFLUOROCARBONS

Pictured: a canister of HFCs

Photo: A canister of HPFs

Hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs for short, are odourless and colourless man-made organic compounds that contain both fluorine and hydrogen atoms.

They are most commonly gases when they are kept at room temperature or pressure. 

HFCs are used in air conditioners, aerosol sprays, fridges and fire suppression systems — but can be thousands of times worse for the Earth than carbon dioxide.

They became widely adopted — especially as refrigerants — as replacements for ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), after the latter were phased out in the wake of the signing of the Montreal protocol in 1987. 

However, while HFCs were better when it came to preserving Earth’s ozone layer — which helps to shield us from harmful ultraviolet radiation — scientists have since determined that they are extremely powerful greenhouse gases, with some forms being several orders of magnitude more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. 

This has led many to plan to gradually phase them out, which includes a 2016 amend to the Montreal Protocol.

The EU, UK and the US have all been pressing to limit their use, with the end goal of phasing them out entirely in favour of more environmentally-friendly alternatives. 

The UK, specifically, aims to curb usage by 69 per cent come 2024 — and only permits registered firms with an ‘F-Gas’ certificate to import, sell or use HFCs.