Georgetown, Friday 16, September 2016: Today, September 16 marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
This
occasion is also one of reflection and reaffirmation of the commitment
by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as a monitoring agency to play its
part in the protection of the ozone layer against harmful gasses.
In
partnership with the Ozone Action Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture
the Authority continues to closely monitor imported equipment that
perform refrigerant functions such as solvents, propellants, foam
blowing and other man made agents.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and Methyl Bromide (MeBr) which are ranked very high in their global warming potential are on the prohibited list and once identified, actions in keeping with the Protocol will be enforced. These may include mandatory retrofitting at the expense of the importers or re-exportation based on advice of the National Ozone Action Unit.
These gases have as much global warming potential as they are ozone depleting. They are not harmful as long as they remain contained in the equipment but when released by venting or by spraying, they enter into the atmosphere.
Training for Customs Officers, importers, AC technicians and customhouse brokers became a priority given the need for knowledge and enforcement of control mechanisms such as processing and examinations, inspections and testing of refrigerants and issuance of import licence and permits.
“The process of checking may cause some delays and some persons may see this as a bureaucratic challenge that slows down the process of accessing their goods and clients’ property. However, we have to make sure that what is coming in is allowable,” Zainool Rahaman – Ozone Action Unit, Consultant, had noted in a recent interview with the GRA.
Gases that contain chemicals that are not controlled and deemed allowable for entry are 134a or R600a for refrigerators and freezing applications and the R410 Refrigerant or butane and propane mixture gases for Air Conditioning Units.
A scheduled phase-out of ozone depleting substances dating back to 2009 which has yielded much success has also been part of Guyana’s efforts to tackle ozone depletion.