Stricter regulations for ozone depleting substances
The European Union has adopted a new stricter regulation on ozone depleting substances. The new regulation will enter into force from its date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities and applies from 1 October 2000. 'Overall, the new regulation provides for a significant improvement for the ozone layer through a quicker elimination of all ozone depleting substances in the European Community than that agreed under the Montreal protocol,' says the Commission. There are three main groups of provisions in the new regulation. - Phase out of all HCFC. These are currently used for refrigeration and air conditioning as blowing agents for insulating foams or solvents. 'The regulation brings forward the phase out dates for production and consumption of HCFCs to earlier than agreed under the Montreal protocol. The use HCFC will be banned except to maintain existing equipment. Maintenance of existing equipment with virgin HCFCs will have to cease by 2010. Recycled substances may be used until 2015. - Phase out of the pesticide methyl bromide. The new regulation introduces a slightly faster schedule to reduce the use of this chemical, by opting for the same phase out date set by the Montreal protocol for methyl bromide used in agriculture. - Measures to minimise emissions of all Ozone depleting substances. These include use and supply bans for substances whose production and importation has already been banned. 'More stringent requirements for handling of ozone depleting substances including new staff training schemes, mandatory recovery and destruction and improved monitoring and licensing schemes of these substances should help in minimising emissions of all ozone depleting substances prior to their final phase out,' says the Commission.