Awareness Seminar: Control Of Ozone Depleting Substances

An awareness seminar on the control of ozone depleting substances was held at hall of Myanmar Forest Products and Timber Merchants Association in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday.

The seminar aimed to disseminate knowledge on measures for the control of ozone depleting substances to the relevant departments and public.

Myanmar ratified Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985) and the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer and subsequent amendment. It is also implementing protection of the ozone layer and measures for the control of ozone depleting substances in cooperation with the world nations.

According to the Montreal Protocol, Myanmar has undertaken suspension, reduction and restriction of the use of substances that deplete the ozone layer year by year.

Deputy Director, Environmental Conservation Department (Nay Pyi Taw), Ye Tun said “The main resource for the depletion of ozone layer is the cooling substances and the air-conditioners that we use daily. We have undertaken the control of the use of these equipments since 2015. We enacted an ozone order to control the substances that deplete ozone layer and control the import and use of these substances. According to the economy and health demand of our country, the use of air-conditioners is rising. So, the import of these substances is creasing to Myanmar legally and illegally. So, we are undertaking control of the import of air-conditioners.”

According to the order issued by the Ministry of Natural resources and Environmental Conservation and Forestry on 25th April 2014, Myanmar has been reducing the use of Hydrochloroflurocarbons (HCFCs) since 2015 and the import of all HCFCs/R-22 substances will be suspended totally in 2040.

The meeting between Ozone Unit members from the concerned departments, the experts from the related sectors and entrepreneurs that was held in September 2019, also decided to suspend the import of 2.5 HP split type and window type air conditioners using HCFCs/ R-22 as of 1st January 2020.

The awareness seminar was held in conjunction with the technical workshop for the technicians of refrigerator and air conditioner. 30 trainees from the Industrial Association for Air-conditioning joined at the workshop.