Turkey ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1991 ("Protocol") and has now introduced secondary legislation in line with the Protocol. Under the recent developments, controlled substances can now be imported to Turkey in refillable pressure cases, although disposable cases continue to be prohibited. Also, exceptions have been introduced for halon gas in airline fire extinguishers and Chlorodifluoromethane imports for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
The Protocol was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere, and thereby protect the earth's fragile ozone Layer.
The Regulation on the Substances Depleting The Ozone Layer ("Regulation"), was published in Official Gazette number 30031 on 7 April 2017.
The Regulation introduces a range of exemptions for:
- Halon gas can now be used as an extinguisher on airplanes. Previously, Halon gas was completely prohibited.
- Chlorodifluoromethane imports are now permitted for after-sale services of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Imports had been prohibited since 2015.
- Import of the controlled substances in refillable pressure cases are now permitted. Imports in disposable cases continue to be banned.
- All controlled substances (except hydrochlorofluorocarbons) are now permitted in Turkey for laboratory and analytical use.
Please see this link for the full text of the Regulation (only available in Turkish).
Information first published in the MA | Gazette, a fortnightly legal update newsletter produced by Moroğlu Arseven.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
