From 2025, new self-contained commercial refrigeration in the EU can no longer use refrigerants with GWP ≥ 150. This guide explains what it means for buyers, why R290 is the compliant choice, and how to specify climate class for a hot market like Spain.
Bottom line: for a new plug-in glass-door beverage fridge in the EU, the compliant refrigerant is a natural refrigerant with GWP below 150 — R290 (GWP 3) or R600a (GWP 3). R134a (GWP 1430) and R404A (GWP 3922) are not permitted in new self-contained units.
Request a quote See productsThe EU F-Gas Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/573, the phase-down that replaced 517/2014) restricts high-GWP refrigerants. For self-contained commercial refrigeration placed on the market from 2025, the rule that matters most is the ban on refrigerants with GWP ≥ 150 in new plug-in equipment — exactly the glass door display fridges, back bar fridges, countertop display fridges and chest freezers most retailers use.
In Spain this is applied through national transposition and market surveillance by the competent authorities. The practical effect for a buyer: HFC charges such as R134a (GWP 1430) or R404A (GWP 3922) are no longer a route for new self-contained units. Natural refrigerants are the compliant path.
GWP 3. Ideal for plug-in display fridges and freezers. Low charge, high efficiency, no HFC quota risk. This is our core refrigerant.
GWP 3. Common for low-temperature and small-format cooling where even lower charge is preferred.
GWP 1. Used in centralised / transcritical systems; heavier infrastructure, less common for self-contained plug-in units.
Buy R290. For a small bar buying one or a few plug-in glass-door beverage fridges, R290 is the right choice and R134a is not an option for a new unit in the EU: R290 has a GWP of 3, R134a 1430, and the EU F-Gas rules ban high-GWP refrigerants in new self-contained equipment from 2025.
| R290 | R134a | |
|---|---|---|
| GWP | 3 | 1430 |
| New EU self-contained unit | Compliant (natural refrigerant) | Not permitted from 2025 |
| Charge in a plug-in display fridge | Well under 150 g | Higher charge |
| Safety class | A3 (flammable — install per the manual) | A1 (non-flammable) |
| Best for | New bars; EU and AU markets; R290-ready plug-in units | Existing units and repair only, not new EU plug-in sales |
Spain's ambient temperatures mean many regions sit at or above 30 °C for long stretches. Choose climate class with care:
We make self-contained R290 glass door display fridges and plug-in coolers at our factory, built to the same specification as tier-one brands at a significantly lower procurement cost. We reply within one business day and support OEM/ODM with fast tooling and low MOQ. See the product catalogue or request a quote.
A tropical-rated (T-class) plug-in R290 fridge is engineered for hot, humid environments. It is tested to higher ambient temperatures than the T4 (38 °C) class we recommend for most of Spain, so it will hold temperature in a 40 °C kitchen or back bar. Always check the climate class on the rating plate and specify tropical / T-class for hot service areas.
Not for the basic setup. A self-contained (plug-in) R290 unit is a sealed, factory-charged appliance — you place it, level it and plug it into a standard mains socket (EU supply is 230 V / 50 Hz, as listed on our specification). There is no on-site pipework or refrigerant connection. Local rules still apply: any service, leak check or decommissioning that opens the refrigerant circuit should be done by a competent person. In Australia, equipment containing HFCs needs an equipment licence (EQPL) — pure R290 hydrocarbon units fall outside that HFC licensing scope.
Yes. From 1 January 2025, new self-contained commercial refrigeration in the EU must use a refrigerant with GWP below 150, and R290 has a GWP of 3, so it is fully compliant. The rule replaced the older 517/2014 phase-down with Regulation (EU) 2024/573. HFC refrigerants such as R134a (GWP 1430) or R404A (GWP 3922) are no longer a route for new plug-in units.
Australia has no GWP hard ban like the EU. Instead it runs a shrinking HFC import quota under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act, which makes HFC refrigerants progressively scarcer and more expensive. For equipment, commercial fridges must meet MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) under the GEMS program and carry the RCM mark. Pure hydrocarbon R290 units sit outside the HFC equipment-licensing (EQPL) scope, which can simplify import.
Australia sales rule (GEMS F2024L01263): a commercial display fridge offered for sale in Australia must be registered under GEMS. No GEMS registration number for the model means it cannot lawfully be supplied in Australia — the registration binds the model, not the factory.
Sources: Energy Rating — GEMS / MEPS · GEM determination F2024L01263
No star rating is required. Australian commercial refrigeration is regulated through MEPS under the GEMS scheme, not a star rating label; a star rating is voluntary and only valid when calculated under Schedule 5 of the determination. GEMS registration runs for 5 years, and a model can hold only one live registration at a time. A family registration can cover up to 25 models, but it must use the worst-performing model as the reference. The registrant may be the manufacturer, an importer or a retailer, in Australia or offshore, so verify the number yourself rather than taking a supplier’s word for it. Registrations made under the 2020 determination remain valid. Under Trans-Tasman relief, a model registered in New Zealand and supplied through New Zealand can be exempt. Some cabinet types are excluded entirely — household appliances, vending machines, ice machines, chiller-freezers, water-cooled condensing units, built-in and roll-in / pass-through cabinets, Pozzetto units and some wine cabinets.
Three reasons. First, climate impact: R290 has a GWP of about 3, versus 1430 for R134a and 3922 for R404A — effectively climate-neutral on a GWP basis. Second, efficiency: propane has good thermodynamic properties, so R290 units often run with lower energy use. Third, future-proofing: with the EU banning high-GWP refrigerants in new self-contained units from 2025 and Australia tightening HFC supply, R290 avoids quota and compliance risk. Charge sizes are small (typically well under 150 g), so it stays practical and safe in a sealed plug-in unit.
For a small bar in the EU buying a new commercial fridge in 2026, choose R290. Under Regulation (EU) 2024/573, new self-contained commercial refrigeration placed on the EU market from 1 January 2025 must use a refrigerant with GWP below 150, and R290 has a GWP of 3, so it is fully compliant. R134a has a GWP of 1430 and is no longer a route for new plug-in units. R290 also tends to run more efficiently and avoids HFC quota risk. Pick a CE-marked, self-contained R290 unit rated to the right climate class for your bar (T4 for most of Spain), and confirm the charge and the EN/IEC 60335‑2‑89 safety marking.
