On 1 October 2000, a European Union regulation that is binding for all member states and which governs the production, use, export and disposal of substances that are harmful to the ozone layer came into effect.
Article 11 of the Regulation contains provisions regulating the export of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances and of products which contain CFCs or other ozone-depleting substances. This effectively prohibits the previously common practice of exporting CFCs or old refrigerator and freezer appliances to non-EC countries.
For refrigerator and freezer recycling, Article 16 of the Regulation is of interest. According to the provisions of this article, all member states must ensure that by 31 December 2001 all CFCs contained in end-of-life refrigerator and freezer appliances are recovered and then safely destroyed.