USA and regulatory pressure: the petition on refrigerants and its possible repercussions on the European market

In the United States, the cold storage industry is facing increasingly stringent regulations on refrigerants. A representative group has filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling for a relaxation of current restrictions, which are deemed too restrictive for large cold storage facilities.

The issue, although originating overseas, also raises questions for the European market, where stringent regulations such as the F-Gas regulation are reshaping the refrigeration landscape.

The demand from the US sector

According to the petition's sponsors, the EPA's limits on refrigerant charges and usage methods risk compromising the operational efficiency and competitiveness of storage facilities. In large refrigerated warehouses, where volumes and continuity requirements are high, the rigid application of restrictions is seen as an obstacle that could increase costs and reduce production capacity.

The aim of the request is not to ignore environmental standards, but to find a more sustainable balance between climate protection and operational needs.

What possible implications for Europe?

While the petition is directly relevant to the American context, the debate is also resonating in Europe. European refrigerant regulations are already among the strictest in the world and are pushing the industry toward natural and low-GWP solutions.

However, the issues raised in the United States—balancing sustainability and operations, the gradual adaptation of large plants, and the risk of excessive costs—are challenges common to the European market as well. It is therefore likely that the American comparison will be closely monitored by European companies, associations, and institutions, to assess any parallels and anticipate similar requests in Europe.