Cold Link Africa March/April 2019 | Page 30

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN aiming to bring everyone up to the same level in terms of the requirements from the Montreal Protocol. ACTION PLAN Going forward, Salifu, together with the participants, came up with workshop resolutions/recommendations to consider for auctioning in the near future. Among others, there was a strong consensus among participants to hold a south– south cooperation joint inspections training and awareness sessions from 2019 onwards. The south–south cooperation interventions shall be held between two to four countries at an interval. They shall be between NOUs, environmental/ enforcement inspectors, and customs officials, aimed at strengthening coordination among SADC. Communication among the relevant institutions is one of the key areas, as well as among countries, especially on trade of HCFCs and HCFC-based equipment. These interventions are also aimed at reducing the issues around data discrepancies. Informal Prior-Informed Consent (iPIC) supporting compliance through prevention of illegal and unwanted trade in ODSs has proven to be effective. This initiative was developed to better manage trade in ODSs that are controlled under the Montreal Protocol. Testing R22 refrigerant demonstration with a portable analyser. 30 A WORD OF THANKS The Department of Environmental Affairs would like to thank the UN Environment OzonAction, participants from SADC, facilitators, and industry for ensuring a successful workshop in the country and ultimately in the wider region. TOPICS COVERED The workshop covered the following topics: • Overview of illegal trade and the need for action. • Improving implementation of licence and quota systems with a holistic approach, starting from allocation of quota up to when ODS is placed in the domestic market and beyond (in countries where post-clearance audits/inspection can be carried out); step-wise procedures to help countries to understand and address the possible loopholes. • Reconciliation of ODS trade data among NOU, licensing authority, and customs: how the trade data should be reconciled. • Analysis of trade discrepancies in ODS and cooperating mechanisms to reduce the trade discrepancies (including transhipment and import for re-export). • Risk profiling for ODS: application whether or not electronic/single window customs systems are used. • Options and challenges in handling smuggled ODSs confiscated at the www.coldlinkafrica.co.za • • border and smuggled ODSs in the domestic market. HFC controls: commitments and options; the role of customs (phase- down schedules, HS codes, and the like). Bilateral/trilateral discussion on specific cooperation, cases. WAY FORWARD Some of the issues to be followed up by the regional network were documented as follows: 1. Awareness activities. 2. Misdeclarations. 3. Encourage joint inter-agency and border dialogues. 4. Consider ban on disposable cylinders. 5. Encourage whistle-blower policies. 6. Clamp down on smuggling on buses and personal vehicles. 7. Lack of ODS destruction technology in the region to be addressed. 8. Use of iPIC and encourage information sharing. 9. Unavailability of alternative refrigerants on the local market to be addressed. 10. Recognising and rewarding of customs officers as an incentive. 11. Strengthening of enforcement on the local market. 12. Encourage south–south cooperation to encourage capacity building. 13. Stringent penalties for offenders and publicising offences. CLA COLD LINK AFRICA • March/April 2019