Substances that deplete the ozone layer

The Commission's amended proposal incorporates in their entirety 5 amendments approved by the European Parliament. These amendments seek an earlier ban of HCFCs in the production of certain insulation foams, a ban on the supply of refrigerating gases and protection against fire in disposable containers, as well as more comprehensive monitoring and control of trade in the regulated substances. The Commission also accepted the principle behind 7 amendments which seek to clarify the scope and the objectives of the Regulation and include a measure providing that all the derogations regarding restrictions on the use of HCFCs are limited in time, and granted in a transparent way. These amendments, above all, permit the inclusion within the scope of the Regulation bromochloromethane and other new substances that damage the ozone layer. The Commission, on the other hand, did not accept the amendments concerning: - methyl bromide; - reductions in the productions of HCFCs in the very near future; - bringing forward the phasing-out of the production of HCGCs for certain uses before dates that are technically and economically feasible for companies throughout the Community; - bringing forward the date for the ban on the sale and use of halons.�