Sri Lanka to ban CFC trade next year

The Government has approved plans to phase out trade and production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) from the beginning of next year in a bid to reduce ozone damaging chemicals.

Sri Lanka is taking this step as part of the Montreal Protocol signed in 1987, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media. 

“The Controller of Imports and Exports will introduce regulations under the provisions provided by the legal framework,” he said, adding that the regulation would come into effect from 1 January 2013.  

Since the late 1970s, the use of CFCs has been heavily regulated because of their destructive effects on the ozone layer.

Under the Montreal Protocol, complete elimination of CFCs was to be reached by the year 2000. By the year 2010 CFCs should have been completely eliminated from developing countries as well.  

However, the Minister noted that Sri Lanka was obliged to completely phase out the use of CFCs by 2030. (UJ)