Use of HCFC prohibited from next year

The Government this week decided to impose strict controls on the use, importation and production of items that use Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) from next year.

The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and environment, was based on recommendations given by a technical committee on 16 August 2016 to make short-term and long-term recommendations to end the use of HCFC. 

Accordingly, importing used or reconditioned equipment with ozone depleting substances which are mentioned in the Montreal Protocol will be prohibited while the production and assembly of tads or accessories which use HCFC that exceed the value of 100 in Global Warming potential and the value of 0.03 in ozone depletion potential will be prohibited from next year. By 2021 all such products, including those that do not exceed the value of 0.03, will also be disallowed. 

Further, the proposal also calls for imposing a condition to issue environment protection permits for agencies involved in refrigerators and air conditioning, saying they should have a refrigerant recovery and recycling machine with effect from 1 January 2019.