THE National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has limited the importation of methyl Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride — two solvents used in the manufacture of glues and adhesives — to 13.9 metric tonnes and 2.6 metric tonnes respectively, with plans to phase them out altogether by 2005.

“Effective this month, only 2.6 metric tonnes for carbon tetrachloride and 13.9 metric tonnes for methyl chloroform may be imported into the island annually,” the agency announced in a statement to the press.

“Beginning January 2004, there will be a further reduction with the aim of total phase out in the near future,” Veronica Alleyne, manager of the National Ozone Unit at NEPA said in the statement.

She told the Observer that this move was part of the unit’s efforts to crack down on chemicals that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

In addition, she said the department was also working on another project that would ensure that persons in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry with equipment that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) — another ozone depleting substance — get financial assistance to upgrade or change their equipment.

CFCs contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, resulting in higher levels of ultraviolet rays reaching the earth. Increased exposure to the rays can cause skin cancers and cataracts among other things.

“We have had three workshops this month with players in the refrigeration field such as morgues, hospitals, supermarkets, ice-cream manufacturers, hotel cold rooms or storage rooms,” said Alleyne.

“We want them to comply with the Montreal Protocol, which is an agreement between countries worldwide to phase out the use of ozone depleting substances. Jamaica expects to be fully compliant by 2006,” she remarked.

Bob Berkeley, a consultant from the Montreal Protocol Unit stationed in Barcelona, noted that after 2005, there will be no CFCs available. He said this will pose a problem for people with equipment that still use the CFCs then.

“What we want to do, is help them to phase out that equipment before it gets that far,” Berkeley said, adding that his unit would “help pay part of the cost associated with changing over the equipment”.

According to Alleyne, US$100,000 had been assigned to help people who wanted to ‘retrofit’ or upgrade their equipment.

“US$10,000 is the most one person can get and the funds will be given out on a first come first served basis,” she said, adding that certain conditions would apply.

The US$100,000 is part of an overall figure of US$380,000 granted to Jamaica by the Multilateral Fund (financed by developed nations to help developing nations implement the Montreal Protocol).

The National Ozone Unit oversees the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in Jamaica. The Protocol was signed on March 31, 1993.