EIA report alleges illegal refrigerant trade linked to organised crime in Italy
LONDON, United Kingdom, 9 April, 2026: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said illegal refrigerant gases are entering Italy through organised criminal networks and reaching major supply chains, including manufacturing, supermarkets and the state railway. Making the announcement through a Press Release, EIA said the trade represents hundreds of millions of euros in lost profits annually for legitimate suppliers.
EIA said its report, ‘Fakes, Fraud and F-gases’, presents findings from its investigations into the illegal trade in hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). EIA said HFCs are fluorinated gases, widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning. They are being phased down globally under the Montreal Protocol’s Kigali Amendment. The European Union, EIA said, is pursuing further reductions through its F-Gas Regulation.
EIA said that following reductions in legal HFC supply in Europe, a large-scale illegal trade has emerged. The Agency added that the trade is driven by profit opportunities and uneven enforcement, which it said has attracted organised criminal networks.
Fin Walravens, Senior Climate Campaigner, EIA, said: “Estimating the scale of illegal trade in any product is difficult, but industry associations have claimed nearly half of the refrigerant gas on the Italian market is illegal.”
EIA said the European Union introduced new regulations in 2024 aimed at addressing illicit trade, including cylinder take-back requirements and strengthened customs checks. The Agency said its investigation found companies across the supply chain admitting to practices such as exceeding quota limits, falsifying invoices, mislabelling refrigerants and evading Value Added Tax (VAT).
EIA said the report identifies a trend of counterfeit F-gases being sold as lower-impact alternatives. The Agency added that some companies claimed to supply counterfeit refrigerants even to well-known hypermarkets and chiller manufacturers, raising concerns that illegal refrigerants may be entering commercial supply chains.
Walravens said: “Companies have known for a long time that rapid reductions in HFCs are coming, and yet many retailers and other sectors across Europe remain heavily reliant on these climate-wrecking refrigerants, despite the ready availability of alternatives. Ultimately, this demand is driving illegal trade.
“High consumer demand drives up European prices, spurring organised criminals to exploit the price differentials with HFCs bought outside the EU and smuggled either directly to Italy or via countries with weaker border enforcement, such as Bulgaria and Romania.”
EIA said Italy is the European Union’s largest consumer of air conditioning and reported the highest number of HFC seizures in 2024. The Agency added that it conducted undercover investigations in 2025 across the supply chain, engaging with importers, distributors and online sellers.
EIA said Italian authorities have acknowledged the issue and established a roundtable involving the environment ministry, customs and police to address illegal trade. The Agency added that enforcement efforts have increased across Europe.
Walravens said: “Despite increased enforcement efforts across Europe, EIA’s findings once again highlight the deeply interconnected nature of illegal HFC trade across member state borders.
“With a 50% supply cut due in 2027, consumers across Europe must rapidly wean themselves off F-gases and onto natural refrigerant alternatives, if they want to avoid organised crime in their supply chains.”
EIA said the report calls for actions, including phasing out HFCs in equipment, strengthening implementation of the F-Gas Regulation, increasing inspections, improving cross-border enforcement and introducing stronger penalties for violations.