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.

Decision X/19: Exemption for laboratory and analytical uses

The Tenth Meeting of the Parties decided in Dec. X/19:

  1. To extend the global laboratory and analytical essential-use exemption until 31 December 2005 under the conditions set out in annex II of the report of the Sixth Meeting of the Parties;
  2. To request the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel to report annually on the development and availability of laboratory and analytical procedures that can be performed without using the controlled substances in Annexes A and B of the Protocol;
  3. That the Meeting of the Parties shall each year, on the basis of information reported by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel in accordance with paragraph 2 above, decide on any uses of controlled substances which should no longer be eligible under the exemption for laboratory and analytical uses and the date from which any such restriction should apply;
  4. That the Secretariat should make available to the Parties each year a consolidated list of laboratory and analytical uses that the Parties have agreed should no longer be eligible for production and consumption of controlled ozone-depleting substances under the global exemption;
  5. That any decision taken to remove the global exemption should not prevent a Party from nominating a specific use for an exemption under the essential uses procedure set out in decision IV/25.
Annex II: Conditions applied to exemption for laboratory and analytical uses