CFC imports to be banned

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

The Government has decided to ban the import of Chloro Fluro Carbons (CFCs) and Bromo Fluoro Carbons (Halons) which are chemicals commonly known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).

Addressing the weekly Cabinet news briefing held yesterday, Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the import and export CFCs will be prohibited with effect from January 2009 while the import of halons will be effect from January 2010 with exemptions for essentials and critical uses as defined by the Montreal Protocol.

"We will direct the Import and Export Controller to introduce appropriate regulations under the Import and Export Control Act," the Minister said.

In Sri Lanka CFCs are mainly used in the refrigeration and air conditioning service sector as a refrigerant whereas, Halons are used in fire fighting equipments as dispersants.

In keeping with the Protocol obligations, Sri Lanka along with all other Article 5 countries ( countries with annual ODS per capita consumption is below 0.3 kg have categorised as Article 5 countries) are obliged to completely phase out virgin CFCs and Halons by 2010.

This cabinet memorandum has been submitted by Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Patali Champika Ranawaka.