The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has seized over NZD one million of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases.
This was a joint operation with the New Zealand Police and Customs Service to investigate illegal imports. The gases have been mainly used in heat pumps, air conditioning, refrigeration, and some medical devices.
“The EPA is cracking down on operators who import and sell cheap bottles of HFCs without applying for a permit or paying a levy to cover the greenhouse gas emissions of the HFCs,” said the EPA’s Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement General Manager, Gayle Holmes.
“Illegal importers are undercutting legitimate operators and, in some cases, selling contaminated HFCs that could damage vehicles and equipment.”
HFCs are synthetic greenhouse gases that have a high impact on the climate despite being emitted in relatively low quantities. They can have global warming potentials of up to 14,800 times that of carbon dioxide.
In New Zealand, HFCs have been controlled under the Ozone Layer Protection Act and the Climate Change Response Act.
Since 2020, New Zealand has been phasing down the use of HFCs as part of an international effort expected to avoid 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100.
“There are rules around HFC imports, so New Zealanders can have confidence that we’re reducing the use of these potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.”
Several search warrants were executed across New Zealand as part of the investigation. Three tonnes of HFCs have been seized so far, and the investigation is ongoing.
Offences can carry a fine and sometimes up to five years imprisonment.
“We encourage anyone being offered bottles of HFCs at significantly lower than market price to contact our investigations team confidently.”
Anyone importing bulk HFCs needs a permit under the Ozone Layer Protection Act and must register as a participant in the Emissions Trading Scheme. Bulk HFCs are containers of new or recycled HFC gas in an unprocessed form, alone or in a mixture.
Permits are not needed to import HFCs in goods, such as HFCs in car air conditioning or fire extinguishers. However, goods containing synthetic greenhouse gases, including HFCs, are subject to a levy under the CCRA.
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