Fakes, Frauds and F-Gases

Fakes, Frauds and F-Gases exposes how illegal trade in hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment, continues to undermine climate policy across Europe. Drawing on EIA’s 2025 investigation into the Italian refrigerant market, the report documents evidence of quota breaches, invoice falsification, refrigerant mislabelling and VAT evasion by companies operating across the supply chain, raising concerns that illegal gases may be entering mainstream commercial markets. While the EU’s strengthened F-Gas Regulation is already delivering positive results, the investigation reveals new loopholes and emerging forms of fraud that could intensify as HFC quotas tighten further in 2027. The report highlights the need for stronger supply chain traceability, continued enforcement and measures to reduce demand for high-global warming refrigerants in order to prevent illegal trade from undermining efforts to tackle climate change.