SA amends regulations to protect ozone layer

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This year’s celebration is themed ‘Ozone for Life’, acknowledging 35 years of ozone layer protection, preserving of the environment and human health.

Sotyu said measures have been put in place to monitor and control imports and exports in the country, such as import quotas and the licensing system.

Government’s collaboration with the industry birthed the Chemicals Management Phakisa Initiatives, aimed at impacting positively on both the environment and economy, such as the training of refrigeration and air conditioning technicians in the informal servicing sector in the country by 2023.

International negotiations

“South Africa also participates and plays an important role in leading the Africa group in international negotiations, making sure that the needs of the continent in phasing out and managing ozone depleting substances are met,” Sotyu said.

This year, South Africa is the president of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and has co-chaired the Open Ended-Working Group Meeting.

“We are hopeful that despite the very difficult circumstances we face the world over, our contribution and leadership will help in guiding the ozone family to making important decisions,” Sotyu said.

World Ozone Day was declared in 1994 by the United Nations following the signing of the Montreal Protocol which aims to protect the ozone layer by taking measures to control the total global production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

This year’s celebration brings together the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, importers and exporters of refrigerants, learning institutions and government to reflect on measures taken to phase out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) in South Africa, and encourage use of environmentally friendly alternatives.