Tonga National Ozone Unit starts this year’s Ozone Layer Protection Mission with an in-house trading program with members from his Majesty’s customs and trade division

17/03/2021, The Tonga National Ozone Unit from the Ministry of MEIDECC – Department of Climate Change has conducted a half day training workshop with the inspection team and trade division from HM Customs at the “Feáo-Moe-Ngalu Conference Room”. This workshop focused on the following objectives:

  • Montreal Protocol; on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
  • The Kigali Amendment; to the Montreal Protocol which includes Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) to the control substances.
  • Import data collection methods and
  • Other ways to improve the current licensing system for controlled substances such as HCFC – 22/R22.

 

Caption: Participants from Customs and Ozone Unit from the Department of Climate Change.

The National Ozone Unit from Climate Change Department spoke about the pathway of the Montreal Protocol and how it has phased out more than ninety percent of Tonga‘s consumption of HCFCs. Ms. Susan Liavaʻa, a technical officer from the National Ozone Unit during her presentation on the requirements of the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol emphasized to the border securities that importing of HCFCs from a country that is not a party of the Montreal Protocol is prohibited.

Mr. Áloisio Fifita from the Ozone Unit continued with a demonstration based on the current Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) licensing system, “In order for the system to properly function, the border control and ozone team must collaborate in accordance with Customs Law and Ozone Protection Act.”

The workshop ended with a session lead by Mr. Sau Niulala, a senior officer from HM Customs emphasizing on the inspection techniques required for the combatting of smuggling and other illegal forms of HCFC trade followed by an open forum discussions on the challenges and way forward for the successful co-operations between these two government line ministries (Customs and National Ozone Unit) and the sustaining of Tonga’s Compliance with the Montreal Protocol by effective implementation of HCFC licensing system.

Caption: Mr. Sau Niulala from Customs and the open discussion during the training program.

ENDS