Fluorinated greenhouse gases
Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) contribute to increasing global greenhouse effect, so their emissions must be limited. F-gases are found in cold and air conditioning equipment, heat pumps, as well as in firefighting equipment, electric switchyards and solvents.
In order to ensure a reduction in gas emissions, the above-mentioned equipment may only be serviced by persons and companies who have a handling permit, which the Environmental Board issues or registers in case the certificate has been issued in European Member States.
Reporting F-gases
Pursuant to the requirements of §206 of the Atmospheric Air Protection Act, the authority consolidating data on handling of fluorinated greenhouse gases shall submit to the Ministry of the Environment by 20 June each year the following reports on F-gases.
The reports are submitted to the Ministry of the Environment through Eesti Keskkonnauuringute Keskus OÜ, electronically signed or signed on paper, by post.
Contact
More information on the reporting of f-gases can be found on the website of the Estonian Environmental Research Centre.
FOKA register
The purpose of the FOKA register is to manage the data, collected pursuant to the Atmospheric Air Protection Act, related to products, equipment and systems containing fluorinated greenhouse gases and substances that deplete ozone layer, and to handling operations in a digital environment. The broader objective is to ensure reduced emissions from fluorinated greenhouse gases and substances that deplete ozone layer into the atmosphere.
Stationary cooling and air conditioning equipment containing three or more kilograms substances that deplete the ozone layer and their handling operations shall be entered in the database.
Unlike equipment containing substances that deplete the ozone layer, equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases must be registered on the basis of the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent contained in the equipment, which can be calculated using an electronic calculator. Carbon dioxide equivalent is the quantity of different greenhouse gases and which has been converted into a quantity of carbon dioxide using the global warming potential.
If you have any questions about using the portal, please call the customer support on +372 662 5999 or write at foka@keskkonnaamet.ee.
What is FOKA?
Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are synthetic gases introduced to replace substances that deplete the ozone layer (OKA) in cold and air conditioning systems, as well as in other applications. Although F-gases (partially halogenated hydrofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and SF6) do not have an ozone layer decomposing effect, they are very persistent and can therefore contribute significantly to an increase in the greenhouse effect when released into the atmosphere.
The Environmental Board manages the FOKA register, where equipment containing OKAs and F-gases and maintenance operations are registered. The purpose of the register is to ensure requirements for competent maintenance and gas collection at the end of the lifetime of equipment, to enable operational monitoring and collection of inventory data on greenhouse gas emissions.
Related links
Last updated: 25.06.2026
