Requirements Concerning the Importation and Exportation of Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives and certain Products Containing or Designed to Contain these Substances

D19-7-2, Requirements Concerning the Importation and Exportation of Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives and certain Products Containing or Designed to Contain these Substances

In Brief

  1. This memorandum has been updated to reflect requirements under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations, including the amendment that came into force on April 16, 2018. Main revisions to this memorandum include:
    a) the introduction of an allowance system for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
    b) the introduction of a prohibition on the import and manufacture of certain products containing or designed to contain HFCs; and
    c) minor modifications on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
  2. The Ozone-depleting substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations implement Canada’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol). The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement to control the production and consumption of certain ozone-depleting substances (ODS) as well as HFCs, which are halocarbon alternatives (HA), under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol benefits from universal ratification. The Regulations are intended to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances and to phase down HFCs, which allows Canada to meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and reduce the threats to human health and environment from the impact of ozone-depleting substances and of HFCs which have global warming potential.
  3. Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which Canada ratified and which comes into force on January 1, 2019, Canada must gradually reduce its HFC consumption in accordance with a specific schedule.
  4. This memorandum provides guidelines concerning the importation and exportation of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and HFCs, and certain products containing or designed to contain ODS or HFCs. It relates directly to the supportive role the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plays in assisting Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in administering the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Ozone-depleting substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (SOR/2016-137).
  5. This memorandum does not amend or supersede the relevant legislation and/or regulations. In case of any inconsistencies between this memorandum and the legislative or regulatory provisions, the legislation or regulations will prevail.

This Memorandum is available in its entirety on the CBSA website.