Govt bans import of 2 ozone foes

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has banned imports of two ozone depleting chemicals -- chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and methyl bromide (CH3Br) for non-quarantine and pre-shipment use -- starting this month, much earlier than the deadlines set by the international treaty on ozone layer protection.

Indonesia, a party to the Montreal Protocol on ozone-layer protection, has the mandate to stop the use of CFCs by 2010 and methyl bromide by 2015.

"We decided to accelerate the phase-out schedule since many of our industrial players have shifted to ozone-friendly substances," State Environment Ministry ozone unit head Tri Widayati told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The ban has made Indonesia one of first few countries in the region to beat the deadline.

Chlorofluorocarbons are commonly used as refrigerants, cleaning solvents, in aerosol sprays and as a blowing agent for plastic foam. While methyl bromide is fumigant used to kill soil-borne pests and diseases in crops prior to planting, and as a disinfectant in commodities like stored grains or commodities awaiting expert.

Tri said many food-related business currently used more ozone-safe substances like Phosphine.

"The state-owned logistics agency (Bulog) previously used large amounts of methyl bromide at their warehouses but have replaced it with Phosphine since several years ago," she said.

She said business players could promote good housekeeping in their warehouse by avoiding the use of chemical-based products, including Phosphine.

"We still allow imports of methyl bromide for quarantine and pre-shipment use because there are no alternatives on the market yet," she said.

Tri said alternatives for CFCs are ready in local markets, namely Hydrocarbons (HCs), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The HCFCs cause no damage to the ozone layer but have a high global warming potential.

Indonesia imports all ozone depleting substances from China, Belgium and India, except for Hydrocarbon that is produced locally by the state-owned oil and gas company, Pertamina.

Many have remain reluctant to use HCs as a refrigerant for safety reasons.

China, the world's largest producer of the CFCs and halon, shut down five of its six remaining plants last year.

The remaining production of some 500 metric tons per year is being kept strictly for the production of CFCs for metered-dose inhaler used in the treatment of asthma and chronic constructive pulmonary disease.

The government said earlier that illegal imports of ozone-depleting substances remained high in Indonesia, due to the sharp disparity prices with the ozone friendly substances.

"We made it a priority to provide training for Customs officers about ozone-depleting chemicals," Tri said.

Data from the ministry shows that national consumption of CFCs has dropped from 9,000 metric tons in 1996 to 2,000 metric tons in 2005, while consumption of methyl bromide has dropped from 140 metric tons in 1994 to 32 metric tons in 2005.

Tri said the government would require importers to label imported methyl bromide for pre-shipment.

Indonesia has also banned imports of halon, methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride except for laboratory use, since 1998.

Halon is mainly used in fire protection applications while carbon chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were used among others as industrial solvents for cleaning and inks.