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EPA Prosecutes LKQ (Distribution Ireland) Limited

Hearing Date: July 13, 2026

On 13th of July 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted LKQ (Distribution Ireland) Limited, 13-18 City Quay, Dublin 2 at Dublin Metropolitan District Court.

LKQ (Distribution Ireland) Limited pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 16 of the European Union (Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases) Regulations 2022, by:

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 7th March 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (1)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 8th March 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1),  which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (4)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 9th March 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (5)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 22nd April 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (7)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 23rd April 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (8)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 17th May 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (9)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 1st June 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (10)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 7th June 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (15)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 13th June 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (17)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 27th June 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant2 to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (21)

•    Placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market and releasing them for free circulation in the European Union on 19th July 2023 pursuant to Article 15(1), which exceeded the quota allocated to the company, that quota being 0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent pursuant to Article 16(5) or transferred to the company pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No. 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014. (23)

On hearing the evidence Judge Halpin convicted LKQ (Distribution Ireland) Limited on Charge 1 and imposed a fine of €1,500, he took the remaining Charges into consideration.  Agency costs were agreed.