Guidance for users, producers and traders has been compiled by the UK government on:
This NI Business Info article for Northern Ireland F-gas users highlights the information and the action on F-gases/ODS urged for NI businesses.
The European Commission has also recently published a readiness notice on EU Exit for the F-gas and ODS business sector.
There is also further general guidance from the UK government on trading and moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland.
You may also be interested in the more general DAERA EU Exit information page.
Moving F-gas and ODS between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Information for businesses on what to do when trading F-gases and ODS between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI).
Under the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP), NI remains within the EU F-gas and ODS systems. Separate F-gas and ODS systems operate in GB.
Requirements for GB to NI trade movement
You will need to comply with the EU’s quota and registration or licensing requirements for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ODS (and, for ODS, the GB export licence requirement).
You will need to make a customs declaration to provide information on compliance with these requirements. The Trader Support Service can:
- offer support and guidance
- complete declarations for you
HFC requirements
If you are a NI importer, you must:
- Be registered on the EU HFC Registry and have sufficient quota or quota authorisation to cover the amount of HFC being imported.
- Make a customs declaration
- Include imports from GB in your annual EU HFC report
If you are a GB exporter, you must include exports to NI in your annual GB HFC report.
ODS requirements
If you are a NI importer, you must:
- Be registered on the EU ODS Licensing System
- Have an EU import licence and sufficient EU quota to cover the amount of ODS being imported
- Make a customs declaration
- Include imports from GB in your annual EU ODS report
If you are a GB exporter, you must:
- Be registered on the GB ODS Licensing System
- Have a GB export licence for each consignment.
- Include exports to NI in your annual GB ODS report.
Requirements for NI to GB trade movement
You will need to comply with GB quota and registration or licensing requirements for HFCs and ODS (and, for ODS, the EU’s export licence requirement).
You will need to make a customs declaration to provide information on compliance with these requirements. The Trader Support Service can:
- offer support and guidance
- complete declarations for you
Requirement for Export Declarations
Since 16 May 2021, Export Declarations are required for some types of goods moving directly from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. These include goods containing F-gases and ODS.
Should this apply to your business, further details are available at the UK government’s web-page on Moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK
Further details on the procedure to follow can also be found on the document on Export Declarations and the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
HFC requirements
If you are a GB importer, you must:
- Be registered on the GB HFC Registry and have sufficient quota or quota authorisation to cover the amount of HFC being imported
- Make a customs declaration
- Include imports from NI in your annual GB HFC report
If you are a NI exporter, you must include exports to GB in your annual EU HFC report.
ODS requirements
If you are a GB importer, you must:
- Be registered on the GB ODS Licensing System
- Have a GB import licence and sufficient GB quota to cover the amount of ODS being imported
- Make a customs declaration
- Include imports from NI in your annual GB ODS report
If you are a NI exporter, you must:
- Be registered on the EU ODS Licensing System and have an EU export licence for each consignment
- Include exports to GB in your annual EU ODS report
Further information
If you would like any further information please contact:
DAERA Chemicals and Industrial Pollution Policy (CIPP) Branch