RECLASSIFICATION OF SA TO "DEVELOPING COUNTRY STATUS"

Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

RECLASSIFICATION OF SA TO "DEVELOPING COUNTRY STATUS" UNDER THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE OZONE LAYER

2 October 1997

BACKGROUND

When South Africa signed the Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1990 we were classified as a "developed" country under the Protocol. The development index used for the classification of South Africa did not take the majority of South Africans into account.

Being classified as a "developed" country meant that South Africa had to phase-out ozone depleting substances such as chloroflourocarbons (CFC's) ten years in advance of "developing" countries. We also had to contribute about R3 million annually to the Protocol's Multilateral Fund to assist developing countries in phasing out their CFC's.

RECLASSIFICATION

At South Africa's request to the Meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol, held in Montreal from 9 to 17 September 1997, we were reclassified from "developed" to "developing" country status. However, to enable us to receive the support of all the Parties to the Protocol, we agreed to the following commitments:

• South Africa would not revert to using ozone-depleting products (ODP's) that we have already phased out, such as CFC's.
• South Africa would not request assistance from the Multilateral Fund for fulfilling commitments undertaken as a developed country prior to being reclassified to developing country status.

IMPLICATIONS OF RECLASSIFICATION

The reclassification of South Africa implies that with regard to ODS's already phased out, the status quo will remain unchanged. We will not revert to using them, even though other countries still have access to them. These products are:

• Halons, that were used for fire fighting;
• 1,1,1-trichloroethane, which was used as a solvent and degreasing agent;
• CFC's, which were used as aerosol propellants, foam blowing agents, solvents and refrigerants; and
• Cabontetrachloride, which was used as a chemical feedstock and as a cleaning agent.

As far as the two remaining controlled substances are concerned, namely methylbromide, which is used as a fumigant for soils, structures and commodities, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, (HCFC's) which are intermediate replacements products for CFC's, but with much lower ozone depletion potential, the following will apply:

• South Africa undertakes to phase these products out in accordance with the commitments we agreed to as a developed country prior to our reclassification. For methylbromide this already has consequences. The Parties decided at the latest meeting in Montreal to advance the phase-out date for methyl bromide for developed countries to 2005, and for developing countries to 2015. South Africa agreed to a 2010 phase-out last year. Therefore, we are still only committed to a 2010 phase-out of this products.
• Even though there were strong efforts to advance the phase-out date for HCFC's the Parties eventually decided that the present phase-out schedule for HCFC's will remain unchanged. Should this schedule be advanced at a future meeting, South Africa will still only be committed to the present phase-out schedule of 2030. However, as a developing country, we will have to abide by any future advancement of the phase-out date for developing countries, should such a date be earlier than 2030.

ADVANTAGES OF RECLASSIFICATION

South Africa will no longer need to pay its annual contribution to the Multilateral Fund. This money can now be put to other uses within the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

South African farmers will now have a five year grace period to find replacement products for methyl bromide, which is presently used for soil fumigation in nurseries, flower and vegetable production, replanting of apple and other orchards and tobacco seedbeds. It is also used to fumigate stored grain, flour mills and structures.

Lastly, South Africa can now take its rightful place among other developing African countries. With the expertise gained in phasing-out regulated products in line with the developed countries of the world, we will be able to play a leading role in assisting other African countries in achieving the aims of the Montreal Protocol.

For further information contact:

Cassandra Gabriel, Public Relations Officer - (021) 457 240 / 082 573 4168 Morkel Steyn, Deputy Director: Montreal Protocol - (012) 310 3404