1. This memorandum has been updated to reflect requirements under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations that came into force on December 29, 2016, and replaced the Ozone-depleting Substances Regulations, 1998. Main revisions to this memorandum include:

• the introduction of a permitting and reporting system for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); and
• the introduction of a prohibition on the import of refrigerant that contains hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and HFCs in non-refillable containers.

2. This memorandum outlines procedures for the importation and exportation of ozone-depleting substances and HFCs under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations.

3. The Ozone-depleting substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations implement Canada's obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol). The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement to control the production and consumption of certain ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The Montreal Protocol benefits from universal ratification. The Regulations are intended to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, which allows Canada to meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and reduce the threats to human health and environment from the impact of ozone-depleting substances.

4. This memorandum provides guidelines concerning the importation and exportation of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and halocarbon alternatives (HA), and certain products containing or designed to contain ODS. It relates directly to the supportive role the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plays in assisting Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in administering the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Ozone-depleting substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (SOR/2016-137).

This memorandum is available in its entirety on the CBSA website: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-7-2-eng.html