F-gas

The EU Commission has launched the "F-Gas Regulation" review, as mandated by Article 10 of the Regulation: "By 4 July 2011, the Commission shall publish a report based on the experience of the application of this Regulation". In this respect, a service contract has been awarded, whose main objectives are: . reviewing international and national markets and policies on F-Gases; . assessing the effectiveness of the present regulation; . developing implementing options for an international emission reduction arrangement for HFCs and other F-gases and identifying technically feasible, effective, efficient and consistent options for further EU action; . analysing the economic, social and environmental impacts of identified options. The objectives defined in the specifications of the invitation to tender mention that "the Commission intends to conduct a first review on the effectiveness of the current Regulation, including an assessment of the feasibility to implement emerging ideas at the international level for a phasing down of fluorinated gases, particularly HFCs." Consultations with stakeholders from the relevant sectors are foreseen. The IIR will participate in the Expert Group set up by the EU Commission in order to comment on studies carried out by the Commission and to provide expert advice during the preparations for the review. Mr Carmine Casale, member of the IIR's Commission B2, is the representative of the IIR in this Expert Group which held its first meeting on October 11, 2010. www.figaroo.org/en/index.php?page=193 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/funding/pdf/calls2009/specifications_en09033.pdf