European Commission closes in on dirty reefers

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Reefer boxes in the EU may undergo closer scrutiny after the European Commission urged member states to enforce an existing ban on ozone-damaging reefer containers.

The Commission published its stance on reefer legislation in the Official Journal of the EU on 22 August, following calls by stakeholders to clarify uncertainty in the regulation.

The EU’s 2009 Ozone Regulation bans the import or export of equipment relying on ozone-depleting substances.

This includes reefer containers made with insulation foam containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). However, an exemption ...