Deadline for Ending Halon Use Approaches.

Developing countries are currently facing the dual challenge of ensuring effective fire protection and complying with the Montreal Protocol by phasing out halons-effective fire extinguishing agents. The Montreal Protocol states that such countries will have to freeze halon consumption by January 2002, reducing consumption by 50 percent by January 2005, and totally phasing out halon use by January 2010.

The UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics' (Paris, France) OzonAction Programme is helping such countries meet the halon challenge through a new publication, Eliminating Dependency on Halons: Case Studies. Halons were the first ozone depleting substance to be phased out in industrialized countries under the Montreal Protocol. Although halon production ceased in those countries by 1994, nearly 26,000 ODP tonnes of halons continue to be produced in developing countries and approximately 30,000 ODP tonnes are consumed worldwide.

The case study offers eight examples to show developing countries how other countries and organizations have approached halon management. Topics discussed include the adoption of alternatives in different sectors; how Poland organized a network of stakeholders and institutions to steer the halon phase out; and the experience of specific organizations in different aspects of halon management.

Visit www.uneptie.org/ozonaction.html for a free copy of the report.

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