Developing countries to freeze production and consumption of CFCs

The UN Environmental Program announced Thursday the end of the 10-year grace period granted to developing countries on the signing of the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

According to Pan-African news agency "PANA," Gilbert Bankobeza of the UNEP ozone layer secretariat, told journalists at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, that in effect, a freeze on production and consumption of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) begins on July 1, 1999.

"The freeze on production and consumption on the substances (CFCs), prior to a gradual reduction and final phase-out in the year 2010, starts today," he said, adding that the freeze on other ozone depleting substances would follow "shortly."

He explained that developed countries completed their phasing out and grounding of production process soon after they signed the Montreal protocol, and it was now time for developing countries to follow suit.

Bankobeza said scientists had predicted that ozone depletion would gradually decline until the vital layer returned to normal in 50 years.

"A large number of used CFC-based refrigerators, automobile air-conditioners and other equipment are being exported legally and illegally by countries that have phased out CFCs," Bankobeza deplored.

"These sales could make the future CFC phase out by developing countries more difficult by stimulating a large demand for CFCs to maintain this equipment," he warned.

UNEP executive director Klaus Topfer appealed to all countries to ratify the protocol as well as its amendments.

He said without ratifying the protocol the anticipated rise of ozone depletion to at least 50 percent in the northern hemisphere's mid latitudes and 70 percent in the southern mid latitudes, will be difficult to arrest.

The Montreal protocol allowed developing countries a grace period of up to 10 years to phase out their consumption and production of ozone depleting substances such as CFCs, in recognition of the fact that they needed more time to obtain funds and introduce alternative technologies.

To ensure compliance with the protocol, a multilateral fund was set up to help the countries pay costs incurred and to promote the transfer of alternative substances and technologies.

The fund has so far disbursed about $900 million to more than 110 developing countries.