Six-month prison sentence for offering HCFC refrigerant on Internet

On 9 January 2017, the Madrid Provincial Court convicted a former company owner to a six-month prison sentence, a fine and prohibited the involvement in any commercial activity related to refrigeration or air-conditioning during a period of 6 years. After closure of his enterprise in 2012, the person decided to sell the remaining equipment and materials and offered a 60 kg R22 refrigerant cylinder on Internet.

He was aware of the fact that selling HCFC refrigerant in Europe is illegal. The advertisement was spotted by the SEPRONA Unit in the Public Prosecutor´s Office for Environment and Land Planning on 11 January 2013, and the Guardia Civil offered to buy the R22 refrigerant under a fictitious name.

The refrigerant cylinder was seized on 6 February 2013 and a court case initiated. The judge ordered the destruction of the refrigerant.

Photo: Refrigerant cylinder containing 60 kg R22 offered on Internet and seized in Spain on 6 February 2013.