Quota and licensing procedures

Implementation of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) is in progress since 2012 to control and phase out of HCFCs. As a control measure for importing of HCFCs, National Ozone Unit takes necessary measures in issuing quota to import Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) since 2013.  The companies and individuals who are actively engaged in servicing, assembling and installing in of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) equipment and systems by using HCFCs or HCFCs   refrigerant and equipment importers  over the last 5 years were eligible for applying quota. Accordingly, quota was issued to sixteen (16) registered institutions to import 156.06 metric Ton of HCFC for 2021. 

The methodology for issuing quota was formulated according to the decision taken by the committee which was appointed by the decision of Cabinet of Ministers in 2018.

Structure of Licensing and Quota System

The process of limiting the imports to control and monitor the HCFC consumption is governed through licensing and quota system at national level introduced through legislative measures. For this purpose, NOU had set up a mechanism to control the imports through this licensing and quota system. In this mechanism, NOU takes the responsibility of allocating quotas for importers, the Department of Import and Export Control (DIEC) issues import licenses on the recommendation of the import requests by the NOU and finally the Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) physically checks all the HCFC imports to be within the specifications of import licenses issued by DIEC. To verify the process of limiting the imports through licensing and quota system at national level introduced through legislative measures, it is necessary to get data related to HCFC imports at these governing agencies.

Flowchart representation of the implementation process of licensing and quota system