Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995

This legislation is the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995, which implements Australia's obligations under the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer and reduce emissions of synthetic greenhouse gases.

What it does:

• Controls the manufacture, import and export of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and synthetic greenhouse gases (SGGs), particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Establishes a licensing system for businesses that want to manufacture, import or export these substances
• Sets up an HFC quota system that limits how much of these climate-warming gases can be imported into Australia, with quotas allocated every two years and gradually reduced over time (from 8 million tonnes CO₂-equivalent in 2018 down to 1.6 million tonnes by 2036)
• Regulates the refrigeration and air conditioning industry through a permit system requiring technicians to hold licences to handle refrigerants
• Regulates the fire protection industry similarly, requiring licences for handling extinguishing agents
• Controls the use of methyl bromide, a toxic fumigant, distinguishing between quarantine/pre-shipment uses (allowed) and other uses (restricted by permit)
• Bans "prohibited refrigerant charging" — the practice of refilling equipment with high-global-warming-potential refrigerants when lower-potential alternatives exist