Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol)

Status
Objectives
Commitments
Action Required
Activities
Evidence of Compliance

Status

Signed September 16, 1987
Ratified June 30, 1988
In force in Canada on January 1, 1989
In force internationally on January 1, 1989

London Amendment
Accepted July 5, 1990

Copenhagen Amendments
Signed November 22, 1992
Ratified March 16, 1994
In force on June 14, 1994

Montreal Amendments
Signed September 25, 1995
Ratified March 27, 1998
In force November 10, 1999

Beijing Amendments
Accepted February 9, 2001
In force February 25, 2002

Objectives

To prescribe precautionary measures in order to equitably control and eventually eliminate total global emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS). To this end, Parties must gradually phase-out production and consumption of ODS, as well as reduce and eliminate trade in these substances.

Commitments

Parties are required to reduce or eliminate their production and consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) identified in the Protocol. (Consumption is defined as production plus imports minus exports of controlled substances.)

The phase-out schedule for developed countries is as follows (subject to essential use authorizations):

• halons: 100% elimination by January 1, 1994
• chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), HBFCs, Methyl Chloroform, Carbon Tetrachloride: 100% elimination by January 1, 1996
• hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs): Freeze consumption by January 1, 1996; freese production by 2004; 100% elimination by January 1, 2030
• methyl Bromide: Freeze by January 1, 1995; 100% elimination by January 1, 2005 and report on annual consumption; and
• ban on production and consumption of bromochloromethane from January 1, 2002.

(Developing countries have, on average, a 10 to 15 year grace period to meet these targets.)

Trade measures:

• parties are required to ban the import and export of controlled substances, as well as of products relying on the use of these substances, from and to States not party to the Protocol;
• parties are to implement a licensing system for the import and export of new, used, recycled or reclaimed controlled substances, from and to other Parties to the Protocol;
• parties are to implement measures to control the import and export of products and equipment relying on the use of controlled substances, from and to other Parties to the Protocol;
• ban the import of HCFCs from non-parties, starting January1, 2004; and
• ban on trade in bromochloromethane with non-parties as of January 1, 2001.

Reporting obligations:

Parties are to provide annual statistical data to the Secretariat of the Protocol on their production and consumption of controlled substances, as well as on their imports and exports of controlled substances.

Financial obligations:

Parties are to contribute to the functioning of the Protocol's Secretariat. Industrialized countries also contribute to the Protocol's Trust Fund to assist developing country participation, as well as to the Protocol's Multilateral Fund to assist developing countries meet their commitments under the Protocol.

Action Required

Environment Canada is the lead and is advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Industry Canada (IC), Health Canada (HC), and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on certain issues.

Environment Canada is required to:

• ensure that all control measures regarding ozone depleting substances (ODS) are put into place;
• regulate imports and exports of ODS and certain products;
• compile an annual report to the Secretariat; and
• contribute resources to the administration of the Protocol and to the Multilateral Fund (Environment Canada contributes 20% of the Government of Canada's contribution to the Multilateral Fund, while CIDA contributes the remaining 80%).

Activities

Environment Canada regulates the import and export of ozone depleting substances (ODS) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) which includes the Ozone Depleting Substance Regulations (ODSR) and the Ozone Depleting Substance Products Regulations (ODSPR). Amendments to these are made, as required to reflect further reduction and revise phase-out schedules adopted by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.

Environment Canada has developed two Environmental Codes of Practice, for both the private and public sectors, recommending practices for pollution prevention, emission reduction, environmental management and preventative maintenance, alternatives, and the phase-out of ODS use from existing systems and equipment.

Environment Canada co-ordinates the activities of the Federal-Provincial Working Group on Controls Harmonization to develop Canada's National Action Plan for the Environmental Control of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and their halocarbon alternatives.

Environment Canada compiles an annual report for each class of ozone depleting substances (ODS).

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) receives the reporting information for Canada and all countries which are signatories to the Montreal Protocol.

Environment Canada contributes 20% of the Canadian contribution to Multilateral Fund; the department also contributes to the Protocol's Trust Fund to assist developing country participation.

Evidence of Compliance

Canada's annual report under the Protocol demonstrates that it is in compliance with all control and trade provisions. Statistical data on production and consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) indicates that Canada is in full compliance with the phase-out schedules prescribed by the Protocol.

http://www.unep.org/ozone/
http://www.unep.org/ozone/montreal.htm