UK Plans New HFC Phaseout

The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a public consultation proposing a major reform of the Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown under Great Britain’s F-gas Regulation. Published on Citizen Space, the consultation aims to significantly strengthen the UK’s climate commitments by sharply reducing the market supply of HFCs over the next two decades.

Consultation Overview

• Title: F-Gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC Phasedown
• Published by: Defra
• Opened: 5 November 2025
• Status: Open for stakeholder comments
• Closes: 17 December 2025
• Purpose: Align Great Britain’s HFC reduction pathway with stronger climate goals and the Kigali Amendment.

Proposal: High-Ambition Phasedown

The current regulation mandates a 79% reduction in HFC supply by 2030.

Under the new proposal, Defra introduces a “high-ambition phasedown” pathway that includes:

• A long-term 98.6% reduction target by 2048
• New phasedown milestones starting in 2027
• Multiple reduction steps stretching to 2050
• Faster transition toward low-GWP refrigerants like CO₂, hydrocarbons, and HFOs

Importance of the Proposal:

HFCs, commonly used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat-pump systems, have hundreds to thousands of times higher global warming potential than CO₂. Cutting HFC use represents a major climate opportunity.

Benefits of the Proposed Reform

• Significant reduction in climate-warming emissions
• Alignment with the UK’s net-zero trajectory
• Faster adoption of next-generation, low-GWP refrigerants
• Improved long-term system efficiency and compliance readiness

Impact on RACHP Sector

The Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat-Pump (RACHP) industry should prepare for:

• Steeper cuts in high-GWP HFC availability
• Rising demand and prices for low-GWP alternatives
• Replacement pressures on old or inefficient equipment
• Rapid innovation in cooling system design and refrigerant technology

Companies may need to invest in modernization, redesign system architectures, and secure supply chains for compliant refrigerants.

Stakeholders Actions:

• Review the consultation papers on Citizen Space
• Assess operational impacts of the new phasedown timeline
• Submit comments before 17 December 2025
• Begin evaluating alternative refrigerants and equipment upgrades
• Participate in industry sessions hosted by bodies such as the Institute of Refrigeration (IoR)

What the Proposal Does Not Include:

The consultation does not propose:

• New bans on specific HFC-containing equipment
• New training or certification requirements
• New usage restrictions beyond market-supply controls

However, Defra is seeking feedback on potential areas for future regulatory strengthening.

Global Relevance

Even for stakeholders outside the UK—such as those operating in the EU, APAC, or India—the reform may influence:

• Global refrigerant supply and availability
• Import/export compliance requirements
• HVAC and thermal-system design choices
• OEM and Tier-1 supply-chain expectations

This update is particularly important for professionals managing environmental compliance, restricted substances, or cooling-system components in the automotive and industrial sectors.

Reference: UK F-Gas Policy