Climate change: fluorinated greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons HFCs, perfluorocarbons PFCs, sulphur hexafluoride

 The Conciliation Committee reached agreement on a joint text for the Regulation concerning certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (f-gases). The main points of disagreement between Parliament and Council had been: the possibility for the Member States to keep or introduce national measures stricter than those foreseen by the Regulation; technical provisions regarding f-gas containment; reporting and review of the Regulation; definition of placing on the market; cross-border transport; labelling; notification of measures introducing further bans on f-gases; training and certification.

During an informal trialogue, held on 17 January 2006, a preliminary agreement was reached on certification and training requirements, some technical aspects of containment and some of the amendments on reporting and review. At the formal meeting of the Conciliation Committee on 31 January 2006, agreement was reached on the outstanding issues. The key points can be summarised as follows:

- Stricter national measures: there was agreement on the general principle that Member States can maintain or introduce stricter national measures in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty. For the specific case of the existing national measures in Denmark and Austria, against which the Commission had been considering legal action, a safeguard clause was introduced which would allow the two Member States to keep their legislation until 31 December 2012;

- Revision clause: in the context of the compromise on national measures, a clause was introduced allowing for revision of the provisions in the light of existing or future international commitments to combat climate change;

- Labelling: a compromise was reached whereby appliances containing fluorinated gases can be placed on the market only if they bear a label clearly indicating the names of those gases and the quantity contained in the appliance. The instruction manuals accompanying the appliances must also indicate the potential environmental impact of the gases.