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The Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

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Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2003 No. 97

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Made

25th February 2003

Coming into operation

28th March 2003

The Department of the Environment, being a department designated(1) for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972(2) in relation to measures relating to the protection of the ozone layer and measures relating to substances that deplete the ozone layer, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by that section, and having published notices in pursuance of Article 32(3)(a) of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997(3), having received no representations in consequence of the notices, and considering it appropriate to make these Regulations for the purpose of preventing the substances and articles specified in them from causing pollution of the environment or harm to human health or to the health of animals or plants, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 32(1) and (6) of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, and of every other power enabling it in that behalf hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and shall come into operation on 28th March 2003.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations –

“the 1979 Act” means the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979(4);

“authorised officer” means an officer authorised by a district council for the purposes of these Regulations;

“authorised person” means a person authorised by the Department for the purposes of these Regulations;

“the commencement date” means the date on which these regulations come into operation;

“customs officer” means an officer within the meaning of the 1979 Act;

“the Department” means the Department of the Environment;

“district council” means a district council within the meaning of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972(5);

“the principal Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, as amended by Council Regulations (EC) Nos. 2038/2000 and 2039/2000(6).

(2) Unless the context indicates otherwise –

(a)expressions used in these Regulations and in the principal Regulation have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have in that Regulation; and

(b)any reference in these Regulations to a numbered Article is a reference to the Article bearing that number in the principal Regulation.

The competent authority

3.  The Department shall be the competent authority for the purposes of the principal Regulation.

Duty with respect to Articles 16 and 17

4.  It shall be the duty of any person having control of the controlled substances mentioned in Articles 16 (recovery of used controlled substances) and 17 (leakages of controlled substances) to comply with those provisions.

Proof of lawful export

5.—(1) Where any controlled substance, new substance, product or equipment is being exported, or brought to any place for the purpose of being exported, a customs officer may require any person possessing or having control of that substance, product or equipment to furnish, within such reasonable period as he may specify, proof that its exportation is, or was not, unlawful by virtue of the principal Regulation.

(2) Until such proof is furnished to the satisfaction of the officer, the substance, product or equipment may be detained.

(3) If such proof is not furnished to the satisfaction of the officer within the specified period, the substance, product or equipment shall be liable to forfeiture and the 1979 Act shall apply in relation to it, as if it were liable to forfeiture under that Act.

Powers of authorised officers and authorised persons

6.—(1) An authorised officer or an authorised person may, on production (if so required) of his authority, exercise any of the powers specified in paragraph (2) for the purpose of carrying into effect these Regulations other than regulation 4, in so far as that regulation relates to Article 17(l) and (2).

(2) The powers referred to in paragraph (1) are –

(a)at any reasonable time to enter premises, other than premises used wholly or mainly for residential purposes, which he has reason to believe it is necessary for him to enter;

(b)on entering any premises by virtue of sub-paragraph (a) to take with him –

(i)any other person whose presence appears to him to be required in connection with the exercise by him of any power under this regulation, including, if he has reasonable cause to apprehend any serious obstruction in the execution of his duty, a constable; and

(ii)any equipment or materials required for any purpose for which the power of entry is being exercised;

(c)to make such examination and investigation as may in any circumstances be necessary;

(d)as regards any premises which he has power to enter, to direct that those premises or any part of them, or anything in them, shall be left undisturbed (whether generally or in particular respects) for so long as is reasonably necessary for the purpose of any examination or investigation under sub-paragraph (c);

(e)to take such measurements and photographs and make such recordings as he considers necessary for the purpose of any examination or investigation under sub-paragraph (c);

(f)to take samples of any articles or substances found in or on any premises which he has power to enter;

(g)in the case of any article or substance found in or on any premises which he has power to enter, being an article or substance which appears to him to have caused or to be likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health or to the health of animals or plants, to cause it to be dismantled or subjected to any process or test (but not so as to damage or destroy it unless this is necessary);

(h)in the case of any such article or substance as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (g), to take possession of it and detain it for so long as is necessary for all or any of the following purposes, namely –

(i)to examine it and do to it anything which he has power to do under that sub-paragraph;

(ii)to ensure that it is not tampered with before his examination of it is completed;

(iii)to ensure that it is available for use as evidence in any proceedings for an offence under regulation 7;

(i)to require any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be able to give any information relevant to any examination or investigation under sub-paragraph (c) to answer (in the absence of anyone, other than someone nominated by that person to be present and anyone whom the authorised officer or the authorised person may allow to be present) such questions as the authorised officer or the authorised person thinks fit to ask and to sign a declaration of the truth of his answers;

(j)to require the production of, or where the information is recorded in computerised form, the furnishing of extracts from, any records which it is necessary for him to see for the purposes of any examination or investigation under sub-paragraph (c) and to inspect and take copies of, or of any entry in, the records;

(k)to require any person to afford him such facilities and assistance with respect to any matters or things within that person’s control or in relation to which that person has responsibilities as are necessary to enable the authorised officer or the authorised person to exercise any of the powers conferred on him by this regulation.

(3) Where an authorised officer or authorised person proposes to exercise the power conferred by paragraph (2)(g) in the case of an article or substance found in or on any premises, he shall, if so requested by a person who at the time is present on and has responsibilities in relation to those premises, cause anything which is to be done by virtue of that power to be done in the presence of that person.

(4) Before exercising the power conferred by paragraph (2)(g) in the case of any article or substance, an authorised officer or an authorised person shall consult such persons as appear to him appropriate for the purpose of ascertaining what dangers, if any, there may be in doing anything which he proposes to do under the power.

(5) Where under the power conferred by paragraph (2)(h) an authorised officer or an authorised person takes possession of any article or substance found on any premises, he shall leave there, either with a responsible person or, if that is impracticable, fixed in a conspicuous position, a notice giving particulars of that article or substance sufficient to identify it and stating that he has taken possession of it under that power; and before taking possession of any such substance under that power an authorised officer or an authorised person shall, if it is practical for him to do so, take a sample of it and give to a responsible person at the premises a portion of the sample marked in a manner sufficient to identify it.

(6) No answer given by a person in pursuance of a requirement imposed under paragraph (2)(i) shall be admissible in evidence against that person in any proceedings.

(7) Nothing in this regulation shall be taken to compel the production by any person of a document of which he would on grounds of legal professional privilege be entitled to withhold production on an order for disclosure and inspection in an action in the High Court.

(8) No person shall –

(a)intentionally prevent any other person from appearing before an authorised officer or an authorised person under paragraph (2)(i) or from answering any question to which an authorised officer or an authorised person may by virtue of paragraph (2)(i) require an answer;

(b)intentionally obstruct an authorised officer or an authorised person in the exercise or performance of his powers or duties; or

(c)falsely pretend to be an authorised officer or an authorised person.

Offences

7.—(1) The Schedule to these Regulations (which creates offences for contravention of the principal Regulation, and makes other, related provision) shall have effect.

(2) Any person who knowingly supplies information that is false in a material particular for the purpose of obtaining from the Commission an authorisation under Article 12(1) commits an offence.

(3) Any person who fails to discharge a duty to which he is subject by virtue of regulation 4 commits an offence.

(4) Any person who –

(a)without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement imposed under regulation 6(2), or

(b)makes a statement which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, where the statement is made in purported compliance with a requirement to furnish information imposed under regulation 6(2)(i),

commits an offence.

(5) Any person who contravenes, or causes or permits another person to contravene, regulation 6(8) commits an offence.

Offence by corporations etc.

8.—(1) Where an offence under regulation 7 (including any offence specified in the Schedule) which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to have been attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any other person purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) shall apply in relation to the acts or defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

Penalties

9.  A person who –

(a)commits an offence under any provision specified in the Schedule or under regulation 7(2), (3) or 4(b) shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine;

(b)commits an offence under regulation 7(4)(a) or (5) shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 25th February 2003.

L.S.

Judena Goldring

A senior officer of the

Department of the Environment

regulation 7

SCHEDULEOFFENCES RELATING TO CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL REGULATION

PART Ioffences relating to contraventions of article 3

1.  A person who produces, or causes or permits another person to produce –

(a)chlorofluorocarbons,

(b)other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons,

(c)halons,

(d)carbon tetrachloride,

(e)1,1,1 -trichloroethane, or

(f)hydrobromofluorocarbons,

otherwise than in accordance with an authorisation issued by the Department under Article 3(5) pursuant to a licence issued by the Commission under Article 3(4) for the purposes of the second sub-paragraph of paragraph (1) of Article 3 (essential uses), commits an offence.

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph 3, a producer of methyl bromide whose calculated level of production –

(a)in the period from the commencement date until 31st December 2003 exceeds 25% of

or

(b)in the period of 12 months ending on 31st December 2004 exceeds 25% of its calculated 1991 level,

commits an offence.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “calculated 1991 level”, in relation to a producer of methyl bromide, means its calculated level of production in 1991.

3.  Paragraph 2 shall apply in a case where an authorisation has been issued –

(a)by the Department under any of paragraphs (5) to (8) of Article 3; or

(b)by the Commission under paragraph (9) or (10) of that Article,

as if, for the maximum calculated level of production ascertained in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, there were substituted the maximum calculated level of production specified in the authorisation or ascertained in accordance with the relevant paragraph of Article 5.

4.  A person who produces, or causes or permits another person to produce, methyl bromide after 31st December 2004 otherwise than in accordance with an authorisation issued by the Department pursuant to a licence issued by the Commission under Article 3(4) for the purposes of Article 3(2)(ii) (critical uses) commits an offence.

5.—(1) Subject to paragraph 6, a producer of hydrochlorofluorocarbons whose calculated level of production –

(a)in the period from the commencement date until 31st December 2003 exceeds

(b)in the period of 12 months ending on 31st December 2004 or any subsequent 31st December until (and including) 31st December 2007 exceeds its calculated 1997 level;

(c)in the period of 12 months ending on 31st December 2008 or any subsequent 31st December until (and including) 31st December 2013 exceeds 35% of its calculated 1997 level;

(d)in the period of 12 months ending on 31st December 2014 or any subsequent 31st December until (and including) 31st December 2019 exceeds 20% of its calculated 1997 level;

(e)in any of the periods of 12 months ending on 31st December 2020 or any subsequent 31st December until (and including) 31st December 2025 exceeds 15% of its calculated 1997 level,

commits an offence.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “calculated 1997 level”, in relation to a producer of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, means its calculated level of production in 1997.

6.  Paragraph 5 shall apply in a case where an authorisation has been issued –

(a)by the Department under paragraph (8) of Article 3; or

(b)by the Commission under paragraph (9) or (10) of that Article,

as if, for the maximum calculated level of production ascertained in accordance with sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), as the case may be, there were substituted the maximum calculated level of production specified in the authorisation or ascertained in accordance with the relevant paragraph of Article 5.

7.  A person who produces, or causes or permits another person to produce, hydrochlorofluorocarbons after 31st December 2025 commits an offence.

PART IIoffences relating to contraventions of article 4

8.  A person who, on or after the commencement date –

(a)subject to Article 4(4)(i)(a) and (b) and (5), places, or causes or permits another person to place, chlorofluorocarbons on the market; or

(b)subject to Article 4(4)(i)(b) and (5), uses, or causes or permits another person to use, chlorofluorocarbons otherwise than –

(i)in the maintenance or servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment or in finger-printing processes;

(ii)in delivery mechanisms for hermetically sealed devices designed for implantation in the human body for delivery of measured doses of medication, or

(iii)in existing military applications, or

(c)uses, or causes or permits another person to use, chlorofluorocarbons in an application referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(ii) or (iii) otherwise than in accordance with the terms of an authorisation issued by the Commission under Article 4(l),

commits an offence.

9.  A person who, on or after the commencement date, uses, or causes or permits another person to use, chlorofluorocarbons in an application referred to in paragraph 8(b)(i), commits an offence.

10.  A person who, on or after 31st December 2004, uses, or causes or permits another person to use, chlorofluorocarbons in an application referred to in paragraph 8(b)(ii), commits an offence.

11.  A person who, on or after 31st December 2008, uses, or causes or permits another person to use, chlorofluorocarbons in any military application, commits an offence.

12.  A person who, on or after the commencement date subject to Article 4(4)(i)(a) and (b) and (5) –

(a)places, or causes or permits, another person to place, on the market –

(i)other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons,

(ii)carbon tetrachloride,

(iii)1,1,1-trichloroethane, or

(iv)hydrobromofluorocarbons; or

(b)subject to Article 4(4)(i)(b) and (5), uses any of those substances otherwise than in the maintenance or servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment or finger-printing processes,

commits an offence.

13.  A person who, on or after the commencement date, uses, or causes or permits another person to use, any of the substances mentioned in paragraph 12 in the maintenance or servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment or in finger-printing processes, commits an offence.

14.  A person who, on or after the commencement date, places, or causes or permits another person to place, on the market halons that have been recovered, recycled or reclaimed in existing fire protection systems, commits an offence unless –

(a)the placing on the market is authorised by virtue of Article 4(4)(i)(a) or (b) or (5); or

(b)the halon –

(i)is halon 1301 or halon 1211, and

(ii)its placing on the market is for a critical use for the time being specified in relation to that substance in Annex VII to the principal Regulation.

15.  A person who, on or after the commencement date, uses, or causes or permits another person to use, halons that have been recovered, recycled or reclaimed in existing fire protection systems, commits an offence unless –

(a)the use is authorised by virtue of Article 4(4)(i)(b) or (5); or

(b)the halon –

(i)is halon 1301 or halon 1211; and

(ii)its use is a critical use for the time being specified in relation to that substance in Annex VII to the principal Regulation.

16.  A person who maintains a fire protection system or fire extinguisher containing halons after 30th December 2003 commits an offence unless –

(a)the halon is halon 1301 or halon 1211; and

(b)its use in that system or extinguisher is a critical use for the time being specified in relation to that substance in Annex VII to the principal Regulation.

17.  A person who fails to recover halons from a fire protection system or fire extinguisher whose decommissioning is required by Article 4(4)(v) commits an offence.

18.—(1) A producer or importer of methyl bromide which places on the market or uses for its own account a calculated level of methyl bromide which –

(a)in the period from the commencement date until 31st December 2003 exceeds 25% of

or

(b)subject to sub-paragraph (2), in the period of 12 months ending on 31st December 2004 exceeds 25% of its calculated 1991 level,

commits an offence unless –

(i)where he places it on the market, its placing on the market is authorised by Article 4(4)(i) or (5); or

(ii)where he uses it for his own account, its use is authorised by Article 4(4)(i)(b) or (5).

(2) Paragraph (b) of sub-paragraph (1) shall apply in a case where an adjustment has been made by the Commission pursuant to Article 4(2) as if, for the maximum calculated level ascertained in accordance with that paragraph, there were substituted the maximum calculated level specified by the Commission.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1) “calculated 1991 level”, in relation to a producer or importer of methyl bromide, means the calculated level of methyl bromide which it placed on the market or used for its own account in 1991.

(4) Any reference in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) to a calculated level, other than a calculated 1991 level, excludes a reference to amounts of methyl bromide placed on the market.

19.  A producer or importer which places on the market a calculated level of methyl bromide which –

(a)in the period from the commencement date until 31st December 2003 exceeds

or

(b)in any period of twelve months ending on 31st December in any later year, places on the market a calculated level of methyl bromide which exceeds the average of the calculated level of methyl bromide,

commits an offence.

20.  A producer or importer which places methyl bromide on the market after 31st December 2004 or uses methyl bromide for its own account after that date commits an offence unless –

(a)it is placed on the market or used for a purpose mentioned in Article 4(4)(i)(b) or pursuant to such a transfer as is mentioned in Article 4(5); or

(b)it is placed on the market for destruction within the Community by technologies approved by the Parties.

21.  An undertaking, other than a producer or importer, which, after 31st December 2005 –

(a)places methyl bromide on the market otherwise than for a purpose mentioned in Article 4(4)(i); or

(b)uses methyl bromide otherwise than for a purpose mentioned in Article 4(4)(i)(b),

commits an offence.

22.—(1) A producer or importer of controlled substances who places on the market or uses for its own account a calculated level of hydrochlorofluorocarbons which –

(a)in the period from the commencement date until 31st December 2003 exceeds

or

(b)in the period of 12 months ending on 31st December 2004 or on any subsequent 31st December until (and including) 31st December 2009, exceeds the quota allocated to it for that year pursuant to the mechanism determined by the Commission under Article 4(3)(ii);

commits an offence unless sub-paragraph (2) applies to their placing on the market or use.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies –

(a)to the placing on the market or use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons –

(i)for a purpose mentioned in Article 4(4)(i)(b),

(ii)pursuant to such a transfer as is mentioned in Article 4(5), and

(iii)in accordance with an authorisation of the Commission pursuant to Article 5(7); and

(b)to the placing of hydrochlorofluorocarbons on the market for destruction within the Community by technologies approved by the Parties.

23.  A producer or importer which, after 31st December 2009, places hydrochlorofluorocarbons on the market or uses them for its own account, commits an offence unless –

(a)they are placed on the market or used –

(i)for a purpose mentioned in Article 4(4)(i)(b),

(ii)pursuant to such a transfer as is mentioned in Article 4(5), or

(iii)in accordance with an authorisation of the Commission pursuant to Article 5(7); or

(b)they are placed on the market for destruction within the Community by technologies approved by the Parties.

24.  A person who, on or after the commencement date, places, or causes or permits another person to place, on the market any product or equipment containing –

(a)chlorofluorocarbons,

(b)other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons,

(c)halons,

(d)carbon tetrachloride,

(e)1,1,1-trichloroethane, or

(f)hydrobromofluorocarbons,

commits an offence unless –

(i)the product or equipment was manufactured before 1st October 2000;

(ii)the use of the substance in that product or equipment is authorised in accordance with the second sub-paragraph of Article 3(l); or

(iii)the product or equipment contains halons and is for a critical use for the time being specified in relation to that substance in Annex VII to the principal Regulation.

PART IIIoffences relating to contraventions of article 5

25.  Subject to Article 5(2) and (5)(7) and paragraph 30, a person commits an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another person to use, hydrochlorofluorocarbons –

(a)on or after the commencement date, in aerosols; or

(b)on or after the commencement date, as solvents –

(i)in non-contained solvent uses (including open-top cleaners and open-top dewatering systems without refrigerated areas);

(ii)in adhesives and mould-release agents other than those employed in closed equipment; or

(iii)for drain cleaning where hydrochlorofluorocarbons are not recovered;

(c)on or after the commencement date, as carrier gas for sterilisation substances in closed systems, in equipment produced after 31st December 1997;

(d)after the commencement date, as solvents in any application other than the precision cleaning of electrical and other components in aerospace or aeronautic applications; or

(e)after 31st December 2008, as solvents in any application.

26.—(1) Subject to Article 5(2) and (5) and paragraph 30, a person commits an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another person to use, hydrochlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants –

(a)on or after the commencement date, in equipment produced after 31st December 1995, for any of the following uses –

(i)in non-confined direct-evaporation systems;

(ii)in domestic refrigerators and freezers;

(iii)otherwise than for military uses, in motor vehicle, tractor or off-road vehicle or trailer air-conditioning systems (operating on any energy source);

(b)on or after the commencement date, in equipment produced after 31st December 1997, in rail transport air-conditioning;

(c)on or after the commencement date, in equipment produced after 31st December 1999, for either of the following uses –

(i)in public and distribution cold stores or warehouses;

(ii)for equipment with a shaft input equal to, or greater than, l50kW;

(d)after the commencement date, in refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment produced after that date, other than –

(i)equipment referred to in any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c);

(ii)equipment excepted from sub-paragraph (a)(iii) (but see sub-paragraph (g));

(iii)fixed air-conditioning equipment with a cooling capacity of less than l00kW (but see sub-paragraph (e)); and

(iv)reversible air-conditioning/heat pump systems (but see sub-paragraph (f));

(e)on or after the commencement date, in fixed air-conditioning equipment with a cooling capacity of less than l00kW, produced after 30th June 2002;

(f)on or after 1st January 2004, in reversible air-conditioning/heat pump systems whose equipment is produced after 31st December 2003;

(g)on or after 31st December 2008, in any military use of motor vehicle, tractor or off-road vehicle or trailer air-conditioning system.

27.  Subject to Article 5(5) and paragraph 30, a person commits an offence –

(a)if, on or after 1st January 2010, he uses, or causes or permits another person to use, virgin hydrochlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants in the maintenance or servicing of refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment in existence at that date; or

(b)if, on or after 1st January 2015, he uses, or causes or permits another person to use, any hydrochlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants for either of those purposes.

28.  Subject to Article 5(2) and (5) and paragraph 30, a person commits an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another person to use, hydrochlorofluorocarbons –

(a)on or after the commencement date, for the production of foams other than non-polyethylene rigid insulation foams;

(b)on or after the commencement date, for the production of extruded polystyrene rigid insulating foams, except where used in insulated transport;

(c)on or after the commencement date –

(i)for the production of polyurethane foams for appliances, or

(ii)except where used for insulated transport, for the production of polyurethane flexible faced laminate foams or polyurethane sandwich panels;

(d)on or after 1st January 2004, for the production of any foams (including polyurethane spray and block foams).

29.  Subject to Article 5(2) and (5) and paragraph 30, a person commits an offence if, on or after the commencement date, he uses, or causes or permits another person to use, hydrochlorofluorocarbons otherwise than in an application mentioned in any of paragraphs 25 to 28.

30.  The use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons in accordance with any authorisation of the Commission pursuant to Article 5(7) does not constitute an offence under any of paragraphs 25 to 29 provided that the use is conducted wholly in accordance with the terms of the authorisation.

31.  On or after the commencement date, a person who places, or causes or permits another person to place, on the market any product or equipment containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons the use of which is, and was when it was manufactured, prohibited by virtue of Article 5, commits an offence.

PART IVcontravention relating to article 22

32.  A person who, on or after the commencement date, produces, places on the market or causes or permits another person to produce, place on the market or use, any new substance otherwise than as feedstock, commits an offence.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations make provision in relation to Council Regulation (EC) No. 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, as amended by Council Regulations (EC) Nos. 2038/2000 and 2039/2000, (referred to in these Regulations and the following paragraphs of this note as “the principal Regulation”).

The principal Regulation provides for a system that controls –

(a)the production, placing on the market and use of,

(b)trade in, and

(c)emission of certain substances (“controlled substances”) that deplete the ozone layer.

Member States are required to deal with a number of matters by means of their domestic legislation. With the exception of regulation 5, these Regulations fulfil this requirement. In particular, they –

(i)designate the Department as the competent authority for the purposes of the principal Regulation that refer to the competent authority of a Member State (regulation 3);

(ii)require persons having control of the controlled substances mentioned in Articles 16 and 17 of the principal Regulation to comply with those provisions (regulation 4),

(iii)contain enforcement powers (regulation 6), and

(iv)set out offences and penalties in relation to failures to comply with the principal Regulation or these Regulations (regulations 7 to 9 and the Schedule).

Parts I, II and III of the Schedule give effect to Article 21 of the principal Regulation in relation to breaches of Articles 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Part IV of the Schedule gives effect to Article 21 in relation to breaches of so much of Article 22 as relates to the production, placing on the market and use of new substances.

Contraventions of the prohibitions imposed by Article 11 (export of controlled substances or products containing controlled substances) are enforceable under section 68 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

Regulation 5 enables customs officers to require proof of lawful export, and to detain controlled substances, products and equipment until such proof has been furnished. In the absence of such proof, the substance, product or equipment is liable to forfeiture.

Copies of the EC Regulation and extracts from the Official Journal may be obtained from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.

(1)

S.I. 1995/262

(2)

S.I. 1972 c. 68

(6)

O.J. No. L244, 29.9.00, p. 1. The text of the amending Regulations will be found at O.J. No. L244, 29.9.00, p. 25 and p. 26

(7)

Article 5(2) provides derogations for laboratory uses and use as feedstock or processing agents. Article 5(5) suspends use restrictions until 31st December 2009 in relation to production of products for export to countries where the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons is for the time being permitted.

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Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources