Revision of Import and Export Negative Lists

The Import and Export Negative Lists have been revised. The Import Negative List now encompasses a more comprehensive list of refrigerants and other ozone depleting substances (ODS). All these substances have also been added to the Export Negative List. Licenses from the Ministry of Trade and Industry are therefore needed for both the import AND export of these commodities.

>> Click the links below to view the amendments to the import and export negative lists:

• Legal Notice No. 152 of 2013 exports ODS
• Legal Notice No. 153 of 2013 imports ODS

Monitoring Refrigerant Imports can Save the Earth!

On Thursday 27th June, 2013, an article entitled "Better monitoring of refrigerant imports: Can help save the Earth" featured in the Business Day section in the Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday Newspaper. The article  was co-written by Dr. Marissa Gowrie, National Ozone Officer, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and Nadita Ramachala from the Standardisation Division of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS).

The article gives the public an overview of the global environmental phenomena of ozone depletion caused by emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS) such as refrigerants in the atmosphere.  It also showcases the efforts made by the National Ozone Unit to protect the ozone layer and phase out ODS ensuring the that Trinidad and Tobago meets its obligations under the Montreal Protocol. 

It also highlights the collaboration of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in regulating refrigerants being imported and sold in the country via the development of national standards for the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry.  This alliance will ensure the improvement of these products and services while helping to guide the phasing out of refrigerants classified as ODS. 

If you missed last week's article in the Newsday, check out the link below to view the full article:

Better monitoring of refrigerant imports: Can help save the Earth

Page 19, Business Day

Trinidad and Tobago Newsday Newspaper

Disbursement of EU Grant Funds to ARIA

On Monday June 10, 2013, The Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development as the National Authorising Officer of the European Union Grant Funding held a press conference to commemorate the disbursement of over $400,000TTD in grant funding among five NGOs and the Vet-Med, UWI at the La Lune Room, Level 20, and Eric Williams Financial Complex.

The Air- Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ARIA) was one of the NGOs to receive European Union  (EU) grant funding.  ARIA has been a long time and valuable stakeholder of the NOU; partnering with the Unit on numerous occasions including training of the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector on alternatives of ODS and best practices, the TPMP and the successful phasing out of CFCs and its current work on the HPMP.  In light of this, two members of the NOU; Mr. Javed Lakhan and Ms. Anastasia Gordon, attended the press conference in support of ARIA.

The EU Grant Funds were used to support the Re-training Session for the air-conditioning and refrigeration sector in good refrigeration practices. Training technicians in the industry is essential for the wise use and prevention of  the incidental release of refrigerants into the atmosphere.  ODS need to be safely recovered (not vented into the atmosphere) from equipment during maintenance operations by a trained technician through the use of recovery and recycling equipment. 

L-R: Mr. Kenneth Boodoo, President, ARIA, receiving grant funds from the Ms.  Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development and Ms Daniela Tramacere, Charge d'Affaires, EU Delegation.

EU Grant Fund Awardees including Mr. Kenneth Boodoo, ARIA (3rd from the left) with the Senator, Dr. the Honourable Minister Bhoendradatt Tewarie (4th from the right) and Ms. Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary, both from the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean and Haiti Ozone Officers

The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP ROLAC) along with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the Meeting of the English Speaking Caribbean Ozone Officers held during the period March 18-21, 2013 in Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr. Marissa Gowrie; the National Ozone Officer and Ms. Neera Singh, Ozone Assistant both from the National Ozone Unit (NOU); Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Representatives from the UNEP OzonAction ROLAC and Paris Office, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and national stakeholders from St. Kitts and Nevis were also present.

The meeting focused on:

• Major decisions coming of the 24th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and the Compliance Status of the Montreal Protocol in the Caribbean Network 
• Major issues addressed in the 23rd Meeting of the Open Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol
• Recent decisions of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and the implications for the Caribbean Region
• Certifications and licensing systems  for technicians (case study on a system set up by the Belize Ozone Unit)
• Graduate level course on the Management of Ozone Depleting Substances in progress to be implemented at the University of the West Indies and its benefits to the Caribbean region
• Implementation of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase Out Management Plans (HPMPs)

This forum provided a distinct opportunity for the English Speaking Caribbean and Haitian Ozone Officers to share and learn from each others' experiences. 

Training on Alternatives to Methyl Bromide for Pest Control Operators

Methyl Bromide (an ozone depleting substance - ODS) is used in fumigation for pest control. Under the Montreal Protocol, this substance must be phased out by 2015. Therefore, training in the alternatives for fumigation pest control is extremely important. The NOU held training sessions from March 11- 13, 2013 at Premier Quality Services Limited in Trincity Industrial Estate, Macoya.

Training sessions on March 11th and 12th, 2013 were aimed at informing pest controllers on the current alternatives to Methyl Bromide. In addition, a sensitisation session for the Pest Control Sector was also held on Wednesday 13th March, 2013.  This session was geared towards educating pest control companies of fumigation best practices in the industry.  

Mr Anthony Ramdeen (Consultant for the Methyl Bromide Phase Out Project) carrying out the training on the alternatives of Methyl Bromide for fumigation and fumigation best practices.

   

 

Dr.Gowrie  giving an introductory presentation to the pest control operators on the Montreal Protocol and the NOU

LIST OF ACRONYMS IN OZONE

ARIA	Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association
CFC	Chlorofluorocarbons
GRP	Good Refrigeration Practices
HCFC	Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
HFC	Hydrofluorocarbon
HC	Hydrocarbon
HPMP	Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase out Management Plan
MAC	Mobile Air Conditioning
MB	Methyl Bromide
MLF	Multi Lateral Fund
NOU	National Ozone Unit
NOO	National Ozone Officer
ODS	Ozone Depleting Substances
TPMP	Terminal Phase out Management Plan
UNDP	United Nations Development Bank
ODP	Ozone Depleting Potential
UNEP	United Nations Environment Programme
UNDP	United Nations Development Programme
UNEP ROLAC	United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office of Latin America and the Caribbean

 

Methyl Bromide Sensitisation Training

The National Ozone Unit held two sessions of Methyl Bromide Awareness Training for the Plant Quarantine Division of the Ministry of Food Production, Housing, Land and Marine Affairs, Trade, Industry and Investment and the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago who deal specifically with plant quarantine and fumigation.  

The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Anthony Ramdeen (Consultant for the Methyl Bromide Phase-Out Project) and Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) on March 23, 2012 and May 18, 2012 at the El Socorro Office of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment (now Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources). 

The purpose of the training was to increase the awareness of various stakeholder groups on the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and Methyl Bromide, their usage and the alternatives available.  

Dr. Marissa Gowrie (National Ozone Officer) addressing the participants

Mr. Anthony Ramdeen, Project Consultant, demonstrating fumigant 

detection equipment to the participants

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome the blogspot of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Trinidad and Tobago! The NOU is a specialised unit of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division,  a division  within the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

 

Established in 1999, the NOU was formed to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago meets its obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. This international treaty  aims to phase out and eliminate the use of ozone depleting substances. Trinidad and Tobago signed unto the Protocol in August,1989.

 

This blog is designed to raise the profile of the NOU, and make our work more accessible to our valued stakeholders and the public, making use of social media (a blog!).  We encourage you to start following our blog, aimed at making you aware of what we are doing to achieve the requirements of the Montreal Protocol and its significance on a national scale.

The NOU blog will provide updates on its activities to phase out ozone depleting substances (ODS) in Trinidad and Tobago. It will also serve as an avenue for persons to get the most current information on alternatives to ODS and provide comments or lodge queries.

 

Subscribe to our blog in the sidebar by: submitting your email address or  joining the site as a follower to receive notifications about new posts. We look forward to keeping you, as our stakeholder, better informed in the future.