THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL - FOLLOWING THE REVIEW BY THE PARTIES IN COPENHAGEN, NOVEMBER 1992, AND SUBSEQUENT REGULATIONS

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was d evised in 1987. It is an international treaty which, in the first inst ance, provided controls on the main ozone depleting chemicals CFCs and halons. Since then the Protocol has had two major reviews. In London in 1990, and in Copenhagen last year. On both occasions the control me asures were tightened and new substances added to the list. Carbon tet rachloride and 1,1,1 trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) in 1990 and H CFCs and methyl bromide in 1992. The Protocol now provides for the pha se out of CFCs, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform by 1 Januar y 1996, and halons by 1 January 1994. The EC is currently preparing a regulation on HCFCs and methyl bromide having already agreed revised c ontrols on the other substances. In some instances these are stricter than the Protocol, CFCs for example will be phased out in the Communit y by 1 January 1995, with a provision for limited essential uses.