Unified Law (Regulation) of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States on the Control of Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

This Law consisting of 19 articles aims at (i) eliminating the use of Ozone depleting materials and substituting them with safe alternatives according to Montreal Protocol and amendments thereof; (ii) regulating the trading in the import, export, re-export, transport, storage, trading, recycling and the use of controlled substances and the appliances, equipment and products harmful to the ozone layer according to Article 4 of the Montreal Protocol; (iii) drawing up and implementing plans and programs in the GCC states for qualification of the sectors whose operation depends upon controlled substances and helping them comply with the safe practices in maintenance operations and conversion to suitable alternatives and also qualifying customs officers to monitor controlled substances and prohibiting their illegal trading; and (iv) facilitating the exchange of information and data among the GCC states with respect to trading in controlled substances harmful to the ozone layer in order to monitor two-way trade and to combat illegal transactions.
According to Article 3, the competent body in each State shall issue a list of controlled substances in accordance with the obligations of the State concerning the Montreal Protocol. The list is annexed to this Law.
The Law prohibits import, manufacture or use controlled substances, and used and new appliances, equipment and products that are harmful to the ozone layers. The GCC states shall exchange information among them with respect to the surplus of halons therewith and shall draw up rules and regulations that shall facilitate the duty of national and regional halon banks in trading in such controlled substances among such States. Ministries, organizations and institutions shall, upon concluding contracts and undertaking projects, obtain an environmental non objection letter from the concerned authority with respect to controlled substances and appliances, equipment and products that are harmful to the ozone layer. To import, export or re-export of controlled substances or recycled materials is necessary a licence from the concerned authority in the country. The Law deals also with rules for establishments that carries on business that depends upon controlled substances. It is prohibited for workshops and shops that undertake the repair and maintenance of appliances and equipment that contain controlled substances to release such substances in the atmosphere. The prior approval of the concerned authority shall be obtained upon disposal of the waste of controlled substances or the appliances, equipment and products that contain them.