Authorizations for ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons

Under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations (ODSHAR), every person must receive written authorization from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada prior to manufacturing, importing or exporting a "controlled substance". There are two types of authorization: allowances and permits.

Allowances

Allowances provide authorization for the production and importation of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) for circumstances not governed by permits.

Unlike permits, persons do not apply for consumption allowances. The regulations provide criteria to determine those activities that entitled a person to an allowance and define the method by which the quantity of the allowance was calculated. Allowances for HCFCs and HFCs are progressively reduced according to a schedule fixed by the regulations. In order to accommodate the shifting markets allowance holders face, in terms of their needs and choice of supplier, allowance holders may make application to transfer all or some portion of their allowance to others.

Hydrofluorocarbon allowances

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon allowances

Methyl bromide allowances

Permits

A permit is required by anyone who intends to:

  • import a controlled substance that is new, recovered, recycled, reclaimed or used if it is not governed by consumption allowances
  • export a controlled substance
  • use methyl bromide for an emergency use or critical use
  • export a product that contains, or is intended to contain, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromofluorocarbons (halons), bromochlorodifluoromethane, tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride) or 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform)
  • manufacture, import of certain products containing or designed to contain a controlled substance for an essential purpose

Essential purpose permits

Despite product-specific prohibitions under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations, an essential purpose permit may be issued for the import or manufacture of certain products containing or designed to contain a controlled substance. An essential purpose is a use that is necessary for the health and safety or the good functioning of society, encompassing its cultural and intellectual aspects; and when there are no technically or economically feasible alternatives that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health. A permit may be issued if Environment and Climate Change Canada determines that the permit application demonstrates that these criteria are met.

Essential purpose permits issued under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations

Controlled substances

Under the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations, controlled substances are:

Part 1: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromofluorocarbons, bromochrlorodifluoromethane, tetrachloromethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, hydrobromofluorocarbons and bromochloromethane

  • trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11)
  • dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12)
  • trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113)
  • dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CFC-114)
  • chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115)
  • other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  • tetrachloromethane
  • 1,1,1-trichloroethane
  • bromochlorodifluoromethane (halon 1211)
  • bromotrifluoromethane (halon 1301)
  • dibromotetrafluoroethane (halon 2402)
  • bromochloromethane (halon 1011)
  • other bromofluorocarbons or hydrobromofluorocarbons

Part 2: methyl bromide

Part 3: hydrochlorofluorocarbons

  • dichlorofluoromethane (HCFC-21)
  • chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22)
  • chlorofluoromethane (HCFC-31)
  • tetrachlorofluoroethane (HCFC-121)
  • trichlorodifluoroethane (HCFC-122)
  • 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123)
  • 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123a)
  • 1,1-dichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123b)
  • 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124)
  • 1-chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124a)
  • trichlorofluoroethane (HCFC-131)
  • dichlorodifluoroethane (HCFC-132)
  • chlorotrifluoroethane (HCFC-133)
  • dichlorofluoroethane (HCFC-141), not including HCFC-141b
  • 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b)
  • chlorodifluoroethane (HCFC-142), not including HCFC-142b
  • 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b)
  • chlorofluoroethane (HCFC-151)
  • hexachlorofluoropropane (HCFC-221)
  • pentachlorodifluoropropane (HCFC-222)
  • tetrachlorotrifluoropropane (HCFC-223)
  • trichlorotetrafluoropropane (HCFC-224)
  • dichloropentafluoropropane (HCFC-225), not including HCFC-225ca and HCFC-225cb
  • 1,1-dichloro-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-225ca)
  • 1,3-dichloro-1,2,2,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-225cb)
  • chlorohexafluoropropane (HCFC-226)
  • pentachlorofluoropropane (HCFC-231)
  • tetrachlorodifluoropropane (HCFC-232)
  • trichlorotrifluoropropane (HCFC-233)
  • tichlorotetrafluoropropane (HCFC-234)
  • chloropentafluoropropane (HCFC-235)
  • tetrachlorofluoropropane (HCFC-241)
  • trichlorodifluoropropane (HCFC-242)
  • dichlorotrifluoropropane (HCFC-243)
  • chlorotetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244)
  • trichlorofluoropropane (HCFC-251)
  • dichlorodifluoropropane (HCFC-252)
  • chlorotrifluoropropane (HCFC-253)
  • dichlorofluoropropane (HCFC-261)
  • chlorodifluoropropane (HCFC-262)
  • chlorofluoropropane (HCFC-271)

Part 4: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

  • trifluoromethane (HFC-23)
  • difluoromethane (HFC-32)
  • fluoromethane (HFC-41)
  • 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoroethane (HFC-125)
  • 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134)
  • 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a)
  • 1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HFC-143)
  • 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a)
  • 1,2-difluoroethane (HFC-152)
  • 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a)
  • 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea)
  • 1,1,1,2,2,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236cb)
  • 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ea)
  • 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236fa)
  • 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245ca)
  • 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa)
  • 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc)
  • 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoropentane (HFC-43-10mee)

Note: individuals and companies are entitled to claim information provided under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) and its regulations as confidential. Where the act or other legislation prohibits the disclosure of such information, it has been "masked" to protect it from disclosure.

Contact us

Chemical Production Division
Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Blvd
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3

Telephone: 819-938-4228
E-mail: halocarbures-halocarbons@ec.gc.ca

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