The Paris-based International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) promotes knowledge of all fields of refrigeration, from very low temperature applications to air conditioning through the food cold chain. 59 member countries and a network of several hundred renowned experts on 5 continents: this is the strength of IIR today.

Precisely by virtue of its representativeness of the cold sector, IIR today invites national governments to consider the various refrigeration and air conditioning services as "essential services" in the context of the spread of COVID-19 in countless countries around the world.

Over 15 million people are employed worldwide in the refrigeration sector, including air conditioning, which consumes about 20% of the total electricity used worldwide.

Refrigeration is vital for reducing post-harvest losses and for storing food products.

Air conditioning also plays a key role in the economic and social development of the hottest countries and its use is expanding considerably, especially in the emerging economies of the world, with the increase in global temperatures.

In the healthcare sector, refrigeration preserves pharmaceutical and medicinal products, in particular vaccines. New treatments, such as cryosurgery or cryotherapy, have been developed thanks to very low temperature technologies.

Refrigeration is used in numerous industrial processes such as chemicals, plastics and liquefaction of natural gas (GNL).

Without refrigeration, data centers - and the Internet - would collapse in minutes.

The various stakeholders in the refrigeration sector - manufacturers, installers, engineers and technicians responsible for the assistance and maintenance of the equipment - all play an important role in ensuring the continuous operation of the refrigeration equipment. This is essential particularly in hospitals, in nursing homes for the elderly who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, as well as in the retail sale of food and industries.

The IIR supports the measures that governments are taking to ensure the safety and health of their citizens. However, through this statement, the IIR wants to bring attention to the essential role of interested parties in the refrigeration sector. Calls on governments to allow the essential services provided by parties involved in refrigeration to continue to function.