The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol. Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

The Montreal Protocol provided a set of practical, actionable tasks that were universally agreed on. The Protocol has successfully met its objectives thus far and continues to safeguard the ozone layer today. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is well on its way to recovery.

Annex II : Recommendation of the Customs Co-operation Council on the insertion in national statistical nomenclatures of subheadings to facilitate the collection and comparison of data on the international movement of substances controlled by virtue of amendments to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (25 June 1999)

THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL,

CONSIDERING the continuing urgent need to monitor the international trade in substances that deplete the ozone layer,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the request by the United Nations Environment Programme to the collection and comparison of data on the international movement of additional substances controlled by virtue of the amendments to the Montreal Protocol adopted in June 1990 (London) and November 1992 (Copenhagen),

HAVING REGARD TO the Recommendation of 20 June 1995,

NOTING that Member Administrations and contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention which has accepted the Recommendation of 20 June 1995 would automatically cease to apply that Recommendation when accepting the Recommendation,

RECOMMENDS that Member Administrations and Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention take all appropriate action to insert the following additional subdivisions in their statistical nomenclatures as soon as possible, either separately or grouped together where necessary to meet national requirements:

Subheadings 2903.19 of the Harmonized System

--- 1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane (methyl chloroform)

Subheading 2903.30 of the Harmonized System

--- Bromomethane (methyl bromide)

Subheading 2903.45 of the Harmonized System

--- Chlorotrifluoromethane

--- Pentachlorofluoroethane

--- Tetrachlorofluoroethanes

--- Heptachlorofluoropropanes

--- Hexachlorodifluoropropanes

--- Pentachlorotrifluoropropanes

--- Tetrachlorotetrafluoropropanes

--- Trichloropentafluoropropanes

--- Dichlorohexafluoropropanes

Subheading 2903.49 of the Harmonized System

--- Chlorodifluoromethane

--- Dichlorotrifluoroethanes

--- Chlorotetrafluoroethanes

--- Dichlorofluoroethanes

--- Chlorodifluoroethanes

--- Dichloropentafluoropropanes

--- Other derivatives of methane, ethane or propane halogenated only with fluorine and chlorine

--- Derivatives of methane, ethane or propane halogenated only with fluorine and bromine

and

REQUESTS Member Administrations and Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention to notify the Secretary General of the acceptance of this Recommendation and of the date of its application and, where applicable, to specify which items have been grouped together.


Most Common ODS Harmonized Codes

2903.12.00.00 Dichloromethane (DCM)

2903.14.00.00 Carbon tetrachloride

2903.19.00.10 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) C2 H3 C13

2903.23.00.00 tetrachloroethylene (PERC)

2903.30.90.11 Methyl Bromide CH3Br

2903.30.90.21 Difluoroethane C2 H4F4 HFC-152

2903.30.90.22 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane C2 H2F4 HFC-134

2903.30.90.29 Fluorinated hydrocarbons … other

2903.41.00.00 Trichlorofluoromethane C C13 F CFC-11

2903.42.00.00 Dichlorodifluoromethane C Cl2 F2 CFC-12

2903.43.00.00 Trichlorotrifluoroethane C2 Cl3F3 CFC-113

2903.44.00.00 Dichlorotetrafluoroethane C2 Cl2F4 CFC-114

2903.44.00.00 Chloropentafluoroethane C2 Cl F5 CFC-115

2903.45.00.10 Chlorotrifluoromethane C C1 F3 CFC-13

2903.45.00.20 Pentachlorofluoroethane C2 Cl5F CFC-111

2903.45.00.30 Tetrachlorodifluoroethane C2 C14F2 CFC-112

2903.45.00.91 Heptachlorofluoropropane C3 C17F CFC-211

2903.45.00.92 Hexachlorodifluoropropane C3 C16F2 CFC-212

2903.45.00.93 Pentachlorotrifluoropropane C3 C15F3 CFC-213

2903.45.00.94 Tetrachlorotetrafluoropropane C3 C14F4 CFC-214

2903.45.00.95 Trichloropentafluoropropane C3 Cl3F5 CFC-215

2903.45.00.96 Dichlorohexafluoropropane C3 Cl2F6 CFC-216

2903.45.00.97 Chloroheptafluoropropane C3 Cl F7 CFC-217

2903.45.00.99 Other

2903.46.00.00 bromochlorodifluoromethane C Br C1 F2 Halon-1211

2903.46.00.00 bromochlorodifluoromethane C Br F3 Halon -1301

2903.46.00.00 dibromotetrafluoroethane C2 Br2F4 Halon-2402

2903.49.00.11 Chlorodifluoromethane CHCl F2 HCFC-22

2903.49.00.19 Other

2903.49.00.21 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane CHCl2 CF3 HCFC-123

2903.49.00.22 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane CHClFCF3 HCFC-124

2903.49.00.23 1,1-dichloro-1,1-fluoroethane CCl2FCH3 HCFC-141b

2903.49.00.24 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane CClF2CH3 HCFC-142b

2903.49.00.29 Other

2903.49.00.91 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane C2HBrClF3 Halothane (HBFC)

2903.49.00.92 1,1-dichloro-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane CHCl2CF2CF3 HCFC-225ca

2903.49.00.93 1,3-dichloro-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane CClF2CF2CHF2 HCFC-225cb

2827.59.00.90 *Chloride, oxychloride and hydroxychloride; bromide and oxybromide; iodine and oxyiodine

3808.10.20.90 pesticide in bulk or in packages of a gross weight not exceeding 1.36 kg each

3808.10.20.91 mixture of other halogenated hydrocarbons

* Note: This nomenclature differs somewhat from that used in the Harmonized System; however, the classification is correct. Following are the differences:

Oxychloride = chloride oxide (HS)

Hydroxychloride = chloride hydroxide (HS)

Oxybromide = bromide oxide (HS)

Iodine = iodide (HS) – iodine is the element and iodide refers to a mixture containing the element; however, the terms are used loosely now and pretty much interchangeably

Oxyiodine = iodide oxide (HS)