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HomeSeperatorPermitting and EnforcementSeperatorEnvironmental PermittingSeperatorOzone Depleting Substances and Fluorinated Greenhouse GasesSeperatorMalta Background

Malta Background

Malta's Position

Prior to accession into the European Union , and as a party to the Montreal Protocol Malta was included under article 5(1) of the said Protocol. Although a phase-out schedule for ODS was devised for all parties through the Protocol, Malta and all other Article 5(1) countries had a more lenient phase-out due to the fact that they were regarded as developing countries.  Malta was given a yearly quota (in ODP tonnes) which could be distributed between the different interested parties through an ODS ‘Committee’. Below is a copy of Malta’s phase-out curve under the Montreal Protocol.

Ozone Hole

Malta also subsequently ratified all the amendments to the Montreal Protocol, and the Vienna Convention  namely:

  • The London Amendment   
  • Montreal Amendment   
  • Copenhagen Amendment  
  • Beijing Amendment   

Following accession into the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer came into force. This prescribes a new regime of enforcement and control. Controls included issues such as:

  • Banning use and sales of CFC and halons and new recovery and destruction requirements;
  • Continued phase out of agricultural pesticide Methyl Bromide and controls on Quarantine and Pre-shipment ;
  • Control of all personnel involved in the servicing and maintenance of ODS;
  • Advancing the HCFC-phase-out;
  • New reporting requirements on exports;
  • New substances listed.

These requirements have been implemented locally through the issue of L.N. 145 of 2007, Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Regulations 2007.

In this regard, the Comission is in the final stages of issuing a recast of EC 2037/2000 which would bring the EU`s legal framework in line with changes and developments that have occurred since 2000.

Due to the graded phase-out and ban of Ozone Depleting Substances, an increase in the use of HFCs was noted and thus control of these substances was deemed necessary. In this regard, Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the european Parliament and the council of 17th May on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases was issued together with 10 implementing Acts.

This EC Regulation follows the same principles as EC 2037/2000 given that uses of such gases have mostly replaced the uses of ODS.

For more information please click here to review a presentation on the subject in caption

LATEST NEWS :

HCFC Phaseout by 2010