(fra kommisjonsforordningen)

(1) Article 19(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 allows the placing on the market of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, heat pumps and metered dose inhalers pre-charged with hydrofluorocarbons, if the hydrofluorocarbons contained in the products or equipment are accounted for within the quota system referred to in Chapter IV of that Regulation. When placing pre-charged products or equipment on the market, manufacturers and importers are to, pursuant to Article 19(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573, document compliance with that requirement and draw up a declaration of conformity in that respect.

(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/879 (2) establishes detailed arrangements relating to the declaration of conformity when placing refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment pre-charged with hydrofluorocarbons on the market and its verification by an independent auditor.

(3) In drawing up the declarations of conformity and documentation, it is necessary to provide for different options reflecting different ways of ensuring compliance available to manufacturers and importers.

(4) Regulation (EU) 2024/573 included metered dose inhalers in the scope of products and equipment referred to in Article 19 of that Regulation. It is therefore necessary to include this new type of product in the scope of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/879. In addition, it is necessary to introduce a number of changes to align to Regulation (EU) 2024/573.

(5) In order to demonstrate compliance with the quota system referred to in Chapter IV of Regulation (EU) 2024/573, different types of documents are needed from importers and manufacturers reflecting the different types of activities carried out by these undertakings. It is therefore necessary to establish a list of documents that importers and manufacturers should keep.

(6) To provide guidance for the third-party verification of the declaration of conformity and underlying documentation required by Article 19(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573, the scope of the verification by an independent auditor should be determined in accordance with Article 26(7) of that Regulation.

(7) In order to provide sufficient time for importers and manufacturers to comply with the new rules, this Regulation envisages that the declarations of conformity established under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/879 remain valid until 31 December 2025.

(8) In view of the several changes to be made, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/879 should be repealed and replaced in the interest of clarity. Therefore, references to that Implementing Regulation should be construed as references to this Regulation.

(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the committee on fluorinated greenhouse gases established by Article 34(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573,