Jamaica Reducing Ozone Depleting Substances

January 30, 2013

On 1 January 2013, Jamaica began to phase-out Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Phase-out is being facilitated through the HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) Implementation Project (United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme components).

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is encouraging importers of HCFCs, a refrigerant used in some air conditioning units, to import “ozone and climate friendly” alternatives to these substances as well as equipment that contain or use these alternatives.

The cooperation of Importers is critical to Jamaica reducing the importation of HCFCs to comply with its obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

The first and second HCFC reduction targets are:

• the freeze in importation of HCFCs on 1 January 2013 at the average quantities imported in 2009 and 2010 (baseline importation) and;
• 10% reduction by 1 January 2015 of the average quantities imported in 2009 and 2010.

Phased reduction will continue to 2040 when the programme ends.

HCFCs are ozone depleting substances found in, and used to service some air-conditioning units used in buildings, homes and offices.

Consumers are encouraged to ask technicians about the use of alternatives when servicing their air-conditioning units.