European Union Authorises a Four-Year F-Gas Exemption for Certain Compressed Air Refrigerated Dryers

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1975, published in the Official Journal on September 9, 2026, authorises a time-limited exemption from the placing-on-the-market prohibitions in points 7(b), 8(b) and 8(d) of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2024/573.

The exemption covers specified stationary chillers and self-contained air-conditioning equipment used as Compressed Air Refrigerated Dryers (CARDs) that contain or rely on fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential of 150 or more. Covered capacity ranges are chillers up to and including 12 kW, self-contained equipment up to and including 12 kW, and self-contained equipment above 12 kW but not exceeding 50 kW.

The Commission concluded that lower-GWP alternatives are not yet technically feasible for all industrial applications and that an immediate prohibition would create disproportionate costs and operational risks. Products placed on the market under the exemption must remain labelled in accordance with Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573.

The measure enters into force on September 29, 2026 and applies from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2030.

Impact

Impact assessment: High.

Key reasons: the directly applicable Regulation preserves EU/EEA market access for four years for specified products that would otherwise be prohibited from January 1, 2027, while retaining mandatory F-gas labeling.

Who is affected?Manufacturers, importers, distributors, industrial equipment integrators and compliance teams handling covered compressed-air drying equipment.

Conclusion:

affected businesses should confirm product type, rated capacity, refrigerant GWP and Article 12(2) labeling before relying on the exemption, and plan the transition to compliant lower-GWP alternatives before January 1, 2031.