"Protocols for Refrigerants Counterfeiting of refrigerants has seen a dramatic rise over the past two decades. This rise can be partially attributed to global restrictions placed on production and use of refrigerants by the 1987 Montreal and the 1997 Kyoto Protocols (1@ 2). These Protocols regulate the gradual phase-out and strict regulations on the use of refrigerants with high Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and high Global Warming Potential (GWP). These protocols require that older refrigerants shall be replaced with newer@ more expensive@ and environmentally friendly chemicals (3@ 4) and necessitates redesigned or replaced equipment to operate efficiently with these new refrigerants. Reasons for Counterfeit Refrigerants These Protocols require the staggered phase-out of these refrigerants allowing unrestricted countries a longer time to comply with the phase down. This staggered system has created an opportunity for brokers diverting high ODP and/or GWP refrigerants from unrestricted countries to restricted countries@ where they can be sold to support the needs of legacy equipment. The increasing use of air conditioning and refrigeration in developing nations has increased the demand and cost of refrigerants@ which makes counterfeiting refrigerants a very economically viable criminal activity. First@ the very environmentally damaging (high ODP) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were replaced by Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). However@ since HCFCs also have ODP and GWP@ they were replaced by Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). But that was not a perfect solution since some HFCs have significant GWP@ so they are in the process of being replaced by Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). Counterfeiting Refrigerant Counterfeiters primarily target non-refillable on-returnable 30 pounds/13.62 kg cylinders and 1 kg or less cans of refrigerant. Methods may include tampering with the non-refillable valves; refilling or topping-off the contents of the containers; painting or repainting and re-stenciling the exterior cylinder/can to more or less match genuine products; and/or replacing the valves. Forged trademarks and falsified outer markings@ or fake company names with similar appearance to internationally known manufacturers are examples of labeling used by counterfeiters on generic cylinders/cans. Counterfeiters may also reuse genuine brand name packaging or manufacture counterfeit packaging@ and then put the forged/falsified generic cylinders/cans with unknown contents inside. Extent of Counterfeit Refrigerants Counterfeit refrigerants are flooding markets around the world@ with European and United States Armed Forces reporting significant contamination in vehicles/equipment returning from the Middle East (12@ 13@ 14@ and 15). The countries/areas currently most prone to counterfeit refrigerants are Indonesia@ China and the Middle East@ per the United Nations' 2011 Report ""Risk Assessment of Illegal Trade in HCFCs"" (5)@ but they can and have been identified world-wide. The areas targeted are hot climates with high demand for refrigerants@ limited inspections and/or a lack of general knowledge about the issues with counterfeits. The April 2013 United Nations Threat Assessment ""Transnational Organized Crime in East Asia and the Pacific"" estimates that counterfeit refrigerants and illegal trafficking in high ODP refrigerants has a flow volume of 3660 tons per year totaling around US $67.7 million (11). Example: In 2011@ it was reported that methyl chloride (R-40) was one of several ingredients being used in counterfeiting of various common refrigerants (6). Methyl chloride is currently not used for refrigeration because it is highly toxic (Class 2B per ASHRAE 34)@ corrosive and unstable - use was discontinued for the most part when the much safer and less corrosive CFCs were developed (7). It is still commonly used in the production of plastics@ and is very inexpensive to purchase@ which makes it ideal for counterfeiting. When R-40 is blended with other refrigerants@ the mix will mimic the pressure/temperature curve of R-134a@ making it difficult to detect using conventional pressure gauge tests. According to the Safety Data Sheet@ R-40 is a colorless gas with a faint sweet smell (8) and is flammable. It is a suspected human carcinogen and is also a potent narcotic (9). Methyl chloride reacts with moisture in air or with water to form hydrochloric acid@ and explodes on contact with magnesium@ and sodium. R-40 is extremely corrosive to plastics and aluminum. Furthermore@ when corroding aluminum@ R-40 also reacts with the aluminum to form trimethyl aluminum (a clear fluid)@ which is pyrophoric in air@ and reacts violently with water@ carbon dioxide@ halon@ oxidizers@ alcohols@ carbon tetrachloride@ halogens and halogenated hydrocarbons@ and many other substances. (In other words@ when exposed to air@ the trimethyl aluminum will spontaneously combust@ and then when trying to put out the fire using common fire suppressants such as water@ carbon dioxide@ or halon; it can explode violently.) The first recognized incidences of R-40 being used to counterfeit R-134a involved explosions of compressor units fitted to refrigerated shipping containers (called reefers) in Vietnam and Brazil (10)@ which caused civilian fatalities and multiple physical injuries to personnel. In Southern Europe@ there were multiple physical injuries (passenger poisonings when R-40 escaped the air conditioning containment)@ explosions@ and a maintenance facility fire at a public transportation service caused by counterfeit R-134a containing R-40. R-134a is not the only refrigerant being counterfeited and many substances other than R-40 (methyl chloride) are being used as the counterfeiting refrigerants. Other common refrigerant counterfeiting schemes involve recovering refrigerants from old equipment and/or using other ""filler"" materials such as flammable hydrocarbons (methane@ ethane@ propane or butane) to increase the output of the counterfeit refrigerants. Obviously@ there can be unknown/dangerous interactions from mixing multiple chemicals and contaminants."