Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on 14 January 2005, amend the Ozone Layer Protection Regulations 1996 to enable the Minister of Commerce to grant an exemption in respect of the prohibition on the importation of bulk controlled substances that are to be used only for a use determined by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to be a critical use. This amendment will enable the Minister of Commerce to grant an exemption in respect of the prohibition on the importation of methyl bromide so that methyl bromide may be imported for a use agreed by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to be a critical use. Currently, under the Montreal Protocol the only bulk controlled substance that may be subject to a critical use exemption is methyl bromide.