Verkhovna Rada approved as a basis the bill envisaging the establishment of Single Register of importers of ozone-depleting substances

The Verkhovna Rada approved in the first reading and as a basis Bill No. 9082 "On the Ozone-Depleting Substances and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases". It regulates the existing market of imported ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and stipulates for public monitoring and control over their circulation.

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Ostap Semerak explained Ukraine imports all ozone-depleting substances as such production doesn’t exist in the country.

This is mainly about substances used as foaming agents, solvents and coolers in the production of building materials, defense industry, civil and industrial aviation, automotive industry, medical and railway facilities, etc.

"Most countries of the world have long been reducing the use of ozone-depleting substances and, as research proves, over the past 30 years, it has positively affected the ozone layer", explained the line Minister.

The development of such a law is the fulfillment of international commitments undertaken by Ukraine under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and provides for a gradual reduction and further cessation of consumption of these substances.

"Today, the Parliament has made another important step to supporting a new climate policy, which envisages quite practical measures to counteract climate change", Ostap Semerak summed up.

The bill also provides for the establishment of a Single Register of importers of ozone-depleting substances and the obligatory labeling of all products containing such substances while the importing or circulation on the territory of Ukraine.

It should be noted, the Government agreed the proposed by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resource a pilot project on the introduction of electronic auctions on the distribution of shares of the annual national quota on the import of ozone-depleting substances. Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an annual quota for imports of ozone-depleting substances is set for Ukraine and the country should follow it in order to avoid sanctions, in particular, the possible total ban on the supply of these substances to the country.