The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol. Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

The Montreal Protocol provided a set of practical, actionable tasks that were universally agreed on. The Protocol has successfully met its objectives thus far and continues to safeguard the ozone layer today. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is well on its way to recovery.

Decision XXI/6: Global laboratory use exemption

Noting the reports the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) provided under Decision XVII/10 and under Decision XIX/18 on laboratory and analytical uses of ozone depleting substances (ODS).

Noting that TEAP has identified in its report a number of procedures for which alternatives to the use of ODS are available, as summarised below:

  1. Analyses in which the ODS is used as a solvent for spectroscopic measurements:
    1. of hydrocarbons (oil and grease) in water or soil
    2. of simethicone  (polydimethylsiloxane)
    3. when recording infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, including hydroxyl index
  2. Analyses in which the ODS is used as a solvent for electrochemical methods of analysis of:
    1. cyanocobalamin
    2. bromine index
  3. Analyses involving selective solubility in the ODS of:
    1. cascarosides
    2. thyroid extracts
    3. polymers
  4. Analyses in which the ODS is used to preconcentrate the analyte, for:
    1. liquid chromatography (HPLC) of drugs and pesticides
    2. gas chromatography of organic chemicals such as steroids
    3. adsorption chromatography of organic chemicals
  5. Titration of iodine with thiosulfate (iodometric analyses) for determination of:
    1. iodine
    2. copper
    3. arsenic
    4. sulphur
  6. Iodine and bromine index measurements (titrations)
  7. Miscellaneous analyses, namely
    1. stiffness of leather
    2. jellification point
    3. specific weight of cement
    4. gas mask cartridge breakthrough
  8. Use of ODS as a solvent in organic chemical reactions
    1. O- and N-difluoromethylation
  9. General use as laboratory solvent, namely
    1. washing of NMR tubes
    2. removal of greases from glassware

Recalling Decisions VII/11, XI/15, XVIII/15 and XIX/18 that already eliminated the following uses from the global exemption for laboratory and analytical uses:

  1. Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment used in laboratories, including refrigerated laboratory equipment such as ultra-centrifuges;
  2. Cleaning, reworking, repair, or rebuilding of electronic components or assemblies;
  3. Preservation of publications and archives;
  4. Sterilization of materials in a laboratory;
  5. Testing of oil, grease and total petroleum hydrocarbons in water;
  6. Testing of tar in road-paving materials;
  7. Forensic finger-printing;
  8. All laboratory and analytical uses of methyl bromide except:
    1. As a reference or standard:
      • To calibrate equipment which uses methyl bromide;
      • To monitor methyl bromide emission levels;
      • To determine methyl bromide residue levels in goods, plants and commodities;
    2. In laboratory toxicological studies;
    3. To compare the efficacy of methyl bromide and its alternatives inside a laboratory;
    4. As a laboratory agent which is destroyed in a chemical reaction in the manner of feedstock;
  9. Testing of organic matter in coal

Recalling the conditions applied to the exemption for laboratory and analytical uses contained in Annex II of the report of the Sixth Meeting of the Parties.

  1. To extend the applicability of the global laboratory and analytical use exemption also to countries operating under Article 5(1) from 1 January 2010 until 31 December 2010 for all ODS except those in Annex B Group III, Annex C Group I and Annex E.
  2. To extend the global laboratory and analytical use exemption beyond 31 December 2010 until 31 December 2014:
    1. for Parties operating under Article 5(1) for all ODS except those in Annex B Group III, Annex C Group I and Annex E, and
    2. for Parties not operating under Article 5(1) for all ODS except those in Annex C Group I
  3. To request all Parties to urge their national standards-setting organisations to identify and review those standards which mandate the use of ODS in laboratory and analytical procedures with a view to adopting, where possible, ODS-free laboratory and analytical products and processes;
  4. To request the Ozone Secretariat to enter into discussion with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ASTM International (ASTM), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) as well as with other relevant multinational standardisation organisations encouraging them to identify methods based on ODS and to expedite the inclusion of non-ODS alternative methods, techniques and substances in their standard methods;
  5. To request the TEAP and its Chemicals Technical Options Committee to complete the report as requested under Decision XIX/18 and to provide for the 30th Open-ended Working Group meeting
    1. a list of laboratory and analytical uses of ODS, including those uses where no alternatives exist.
    2. to identify the international and national standards that require the use of ODS and to indicate the corresponding alternative standard methods not mandating the use of ODS.
    3. to consider the technical and economical availability of those alternatives in Article-5 and non-Article-5 parties as well as to ensure that the alternative methods show similar or better statistical properties (for example accuracy or detection limits).
  6. To request TEAP while continuing its work as described in paragraph 5, to evaluate the availability of alternatives for those uses already banned under the global exemption in Parties operating under Article 5(1), considering technical and economical aspects. By the 30th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group TEAP should present its findings and recommendations whether exemptions would be required for parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 for any of the uses already banned.
  7. To allow Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 until 31 December 2010 to deviate from the existing laboratory and analytical use bans in individual cases, where a Party considers that this is justified, and to ask Parties to revisit this issue at the 22nd Meeting of the Parties.
  8. To request the Ozone Secretariat to update the list of laboratory and analytical uses that the Parties have agreed should no longer be eligible under the global exemption, as required by Decision X/19 and to write to Parties reporting laboratory and analytical uses of ozone depleting substances encouraging them to transition to non-ozone depleting alternatives, where allowed by their national standards.
  9. To request Parties to continue to investigate domestically the possibility of replacing ODS in those laboratory and analytical uses listed in the report by the TEAP and to make this information available to the Ozone Secretariat by 30 April 2010.
  10. To encourage UNEP to invite representatives of the Chemicals Technical Options Committee to regional network meetings to raise awareness of ODS alternatives for laboratory and analytical uses where problems have been specifically identified by members of that network. Where considered necessary other representatives from competent authorities of Parties could be invited to participate in the meeting.
Annex II: Conditions applied to exemption for laboratory and analytical uses