RUSSIA: Illegal imports of refrigerants from China via the bordering countries of Ukraine and Kazakhstan are becoming a problem for Russia in its efforts to phase-out ozone-depleting substances.
The problem of countering the illegal imports and its effects on Russian efforts to meet its commitments under the Montreal Protocol agreement were discussed at a recent meeting of Russian government departments, refrigerant suppliers and industry associations.

While R22 was the main subject of discussion at the meeting, it appears that the country still has problems with CFCs. Only recently a Toyota Land Cruiser stopped at the Russia/Ukraine border was found to be carrying 20 cylinders of refrigerant gas marked as R12.

Against this background, one of Russia's largest refrigerant manufacturers, OAO GaloPolymer, called for a ban on the importation and use of R22 and R141b inside Russia, the proper training and equipping of customs officers and a ban on the importation of small disposable cylinders.

The major problem is the price differentials which makes illegal importation of ODS from China, mostly through Kazakhstan, so attractive to criminals. For instance, OAO GaloPolymer sells R22 at around £50/kg, while in China this refrigerant costs around £15kg.

With no importation limitations on HCFCs in the Ukraine and Kazakhstan, illegal imports into Russia of R22 and R141b have increased four-fold, according to Honeywell's Russian distributor Transcool. Supplies of prohibited products disguised as legal gases, particularly R22 marked as R134a have also increased.