F gases and ozone depleting substances

Last updated 28 November 2022

Northern Ireland remains in the European Union fluorinated gas (F gas) system under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Moving F gas from GB to NI

To move hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the most common type of F gas, from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to NI, you must comply with EU quota and registration requirements.

If you bring HFCs into NI from GB, you must:

• register on the EU HFC Registry
• have sufficient EU quota, quota authorisation or delegations to cover the amount of HFC you’re importing
• make a customs declaration - you can use the Trader Support Service
• include export consignments from GB to NI in your annual F gas report

If you export HFCs from GB, you must include your exports to NI in your annual GB HFC report.

Moving F gas from NI to GB

To move HFCs from NI to GB, you must comply with GB quota and registration requirements.

You must:

• register on the GB F gas service
• have enough quota, quota authorisations or delegations to cover the amount of HFC you’re importing to GB
• make a customs declaration - you can use the Trader Support Service
• include imports from NI in your annual GB HFC report
• complete a declaration of conformity to certify that the HFCs in the equipment are covered by a quota authorisation or delegation
• include exports to GB in your annual EU HFC report.

Customs declaration and the Goods Vehicle Movement Service

Before moving HFCs from certain NI ports to GB, you must:

1. Make a customs declaration on the Customs Declaration Service - this generates a declaration unique consignment reference (DUCR).
2. Create a new goods movement reference (GMR) for the move using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service - the haulier will need the DUCR to do this.