Illegal import of ODS still rampant<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is considering delaying a ban on the use of ozone-
\ndepleting substances (ODS), mainly CFCs, by industries until
\n2007, due to the fact that its import remains rampant, a senior
\ngovernment official has said.<\/p>\n
Deputy State Minister of Environment for Environmental
\nConservation Liana Bratasida said the use of ODS was worrying as
\nit remained above 5,000 metric tons as of 2001, although there
\nhad been a declining trend in volume since 1998.<\/p>\n
The government has set a target of reducing the use of ODS to
\nonly 700 metric tons of CFCs by the end of 2003.<\/p>\n
"Many of our industries have yet to be able to shift their
\nproduction process to non-ODS technology, as illegal imports are
\nstill widespread," Liana told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in
\ncoordination with us, is planning to delay the deadline to limit
\nthe use of ODS."<\/p>\n
Liana was referring to a plan to revise several decrees issued
\nby the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including Decree No.
\n110\/1998, which replaces Decree No. 230\/1997 on the trade order
\nof importing goods.<\/p>\n
Under the 1998 decree, only CFC-12, which is used for post-
\nsales service of refrigerators, is allowed to be imported until
\n2003 with a maximum amount of 700 metric tons.<\/p>\n
Other decrees to be revised are the Minister of Industry and
\nTrade's Decree No. 410 and No. 411\/1998 on the revision of Decree
\nNo. 110\/1998, on the ban to produce and trade ODS as well as
\nprohibiting the production and trade of goods using ODS.<\/p>\n
Under the decree, the use of various ODS, such as CFCs and
\nmethyl bromide, in warehouses and pre-shipments, will be banned
\nin 2005.<\/p>\n
Several ODS were banned in 1998. Indonesia does not produce
\nODS, but uses it in several products.<\/p>\n
The government will revoke business licenses and impose other
\npenalties on companies that violate this ruling.<\/p>\n
ODS have been used for years in the industrial sector, such as
\nin commercial refrigeration, and the production of aerosols,
\nfoams, tobacco, pesticides and solvents to clean plastics, glass
\nand metal.<\/p>\n
In daily use, ODS-based products are, among other things,
\nrefrigerators, air-conditioners, TV sets, disk drives, weapons,
\nshoes, lenses, paint strippers and clothing made from metal
\nfibers.<\/p>\n
Liana said that many small and medium enterprises could not
\nafford to use non-ODS technology due to its cost.<\/p>\n
"From what we learned, CFCs were easily obtainable on the
\nmarket and the price was very cheap," she said.<\/p>\n
She said the government should continue its technical program
\nfor companies to help them make the change to non-ODS technology.<\/p>\n
Multilateral funding from the United Nations and the World
\nBank, which would reimburse a company's shift from ODS to non-ODS
\ntechnology, could be an effective tool for eliminating the
\nindustries' use of ODS, she added.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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