Singapore has been a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) since 5 January 1989. Since then, Singapore has acceded to five amendments made under the Montreal Protocol – the London Amendment on 2 March 1993; the Copenhagen Amendment and the Montreal Amendment on 22 September 2000; the Beijing Amendment on 10 January 2007; and most recently the Kigali Amendment on 1 Jun 2022.
Latest circulars and news
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Phase-Down Management Plan in Singapore [PDF, 228.5 KB]
- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Phase-Out Schedule [PDF, 529.72 KB]
- Licensing Requirements for Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Controlled under the Environmental Protection and Management Act [PDF, 429.48 KB]
- Reporting of First Point of Sales (FPOS) Data by HFC Importers (dialogue session slides) [PDF, 576.66 KB]
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Licensing Controls (dialogue session slides) [PDF, 377.61 KB]
- Circular on phase-out of methyl bromide for non-QPS applications [PDF, 93.11 KB]
- Circular on implementation of GHS on ODS [PDF, 203.75 KB]
- Common HCFCs and their Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) Values [PDF, 70.07 KB]
- Circular on updates on export of HCFCs [PDF, 220.02 KB]
- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) phase-out management plan in Singapore (presentation slides) [PDF, 1.29 MB]
- Circular on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) phase-out management plan in Singapore [PDF, 97.29 KB]
- Circular on export of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) [PDF, 24.93 KB]
- Circular on export of methyl bromide [PDF, 24.78 KB]
- Circular on PCD(ODS) TradeNet auto processing (23 March 2005) [PDF, 59.74 KB]
- Circular on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) [PDF, 491.65 KB]
Control measures
Ozone Depleting Substances [PDF, 65.54 KB] (ODS) are controlled as hazardous substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act and the Environmental Protection and Management (Ozone Depleting Substances) Regulations.
Singapore shares worldwide concern in reducing consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and preserving the stratospheric ozone layer for a safe and healthy environment.
Singapore has adopted a multi-pronged approach to reduce and eventually phase-out the consumption of ODS.
In accordance with the phase out schedule as set out under these international agreements, Singapore implemented control measures to phase-out ODS. The control measures implemented by Singapore are summarised in the table below.
| Date | Control Measures |
|---|
| 5 Oct 1989 | Implement quota allocation system for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). |
| 5 Feb 1991 | Prohibit the import and manufacture of non-pharmaceutical aerosol products and polystyrene sheets/products containing controlled CFCs. |
| 1 Jan 1992 | (a) Prohibit the use of halon 1301 for new fire protection systems.
(b) Prohibit the import of halon 2402. |
| 1 Jan 1994 | Prohibit the import of halon 1211 and halon 1301 |
| 1 Jan 1993 | Prohibit the import of new air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment using CFC 11 and CFC 12. |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Prohibit the import of fire-extinguishers filled with halon 1211. |
| 1 Jan 1995 | All new cars must be equipped with non-CFC air-conditioning systems. |
| 1 Apr 1995 | Prohibit the import of HBFCs. |
| 1 Jan 1996 | Prohibit the import of CFCs, carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1-trichloroethane
(methyl chloroform). |
| 1 Jan 2002 | Freeze the consumption of methyl bromide (MeBr) for non-quarantine
and pre-shipment (non-QPS) applications*. |
| 1 Jan 2013 | Implement quota allocation framework for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for gradual phase-out of HCFCs by 2030. |
| 1 Jan 2015 | Phase-out of methyl bromide (MeBr) for non-quarantine and pre-shipment (non-QPS) applications*. |
| 1 Jan 2019 | Implement licensing controls for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) |
*Note:
Quarantine applications include treatments to prevent the introduction, establishment, and/or spread of quarantine pests, or to ensure their official control.
Pre-shipment applications include non-quarantine methyl bromide applications within 21 days prior to export that are required to meet the official requirements of the importing or exporting countries.
Licence to import and export controlled ODS
Control of ODS comes under the purview of the Pollution Control Department (PCD) of NEA and is regulated under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Protection and Management (ODS) Regulations 2000. Under the Act and its Regulations, a licence is required for the import and export of ODS listed in the Schedules of the Act and its Regulations.
The list of controlled ODS can be found in the Schedule of the EPC(ODS) Regulations 2000 (Table 3) [PDF, 65.54 KB] .
Licence to import and export controlled HFCs
With effect from 1 Jan 2019, NEA has implemented licensing control for 18 types of HFCs (inclusive of blends/mixtures) under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA). Companies importing and/or exporting any of these controlled HFCs (inclusive of blends/mixtures that contain one or more of these HFCs) are required to obtain a Hazardous Substances Licence from NEA prior to their import and/or export.
The list of controlled HFC (inclusive of blends/mixtures) can be found
here.
Applications for Hazardous Substances (ODS/HFC) Licences (valid for one year) can be submitted online.
Please review the guidance notes before filling out the licence application.
The list of HS Codes and Product Codes assigned to the controlled ODS/HFC can be found here.
Declarations and re-debit authorisation form for local transaction between importers and exporters of controlled ODS.
Companies who wish to purchase controlled ODS from local importers for export, shall prior to export, declare the intended transaction to PCD. Such transaction shall be made in the Declaration by Licenced Exporter of Controlled Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) form.[PDF, 52.95 KB]
Importers who wish to sell controlled ODS to another company for export shall declare such transactions in a Re-Export Debit Authorisation of Controlled Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) form. [PDF, 50.66 KB]