Customs Play Essential Role In Controlling ODS Traffic

Hyderabad: Customs agencies and other enforcement bodies play a key role in the effective monitoring and control of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and therefore must be made familiar with its regulatory mechanism, said the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN). Since monitoring and control of ODS traffic has become inevitable to prevent illegal trade as also to effectively implement and enforce a given regulatory regime, customs agencies must be made familiar with any legislative and regulatory mechanism that need their attention. It said developing countries were still using them mostly in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector. According to the phase out schedules agreed upon by the parties of the Montreal Protocol, developing countries had to freeze their production and consumption of the main ODS, chlorofluorocarbon, starting from July 1, 1999. The phase out schedules for other ODS such as halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl, chloroform and methyl bromide have already begun. NACEN said developing countries have began phasing out ODS in line with the Montreal Protocol.