MEP Wouter Beke (PPE) has asked the European Commission to clarify how it plans to develop a life cycle CO₂ emissions calculation methodology for heat pumps, warning that without it manufacturers cannot apply an exemption under the F-gas Regulation with legal certainty. The question, submitted on 15 July 2026, targets Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573, which exempts certain heat pump equipment from refrigerant prohibitions if its life cycle CO₂ emissions are lower than equivalent equipment meeting ecodesign requirements. Beke argues that the Commission has not yet defined the methodology, nor have ecodesign regulations provided a clear reference, creating risks for both manufacturers and market surveillance authorities.
Beke wants to know what steps the Commission is taking to integrate the methodology into ecodesign rules before the 2027 market prohibition takes effect. He also references recital 23 of the F-gas Regulation, which calls for a consistent EU-wide approach. The policy orientation is pro-industry and pro-transition: Beke seeks to ensure that the exemption is usable in practice, preventing disruption for heat pump producers who rely on refrigerants that lack alternatives. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it plans to update ecodesign regulations in time or whether manufacturers may face legal uncertainty.