Challenges
The F-gas Regulation and MAC Directives are legislative instruments that are designed to reduce the growth in emissions of HFCs and PFCs. It is accepted that HFCs and PFCs have an important role as alternatives for the replacement of ozone-depleting substances (CFCs and HCFCs) in important applications such as refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam insulation, high-tech cleaning, medical aerosols and that some growth in use can be anticipated as these products replace existing ODS. The main challenges for users of HFCs and PFCs is firstly to reduce leakage through improved design of equipment, containment, maintenance practices and recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction and then, secondly, to demonstrate that the implementation of such improvements has reduced the rate of growth of emissions of these products - only by doing so, through improved handling and reporting of information, can the F-gas Regulation and MAC Directive be demonstrated to be successful.