The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer requires Parties to the Amendment to put into place an import and export licensing system for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 1st January 2019 (or two years later if required).
To enable a licensing system to function effectively, it is important that the government is able to monitor and record imports and exports of each specific HFC or HFC-containing mixture individually. Import and export statistics are normally collected by customs officers using the international product nomenclature system – the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, or Harmonized System (HS). However, until the HS is revised in 2022, all HFCs are contained in a single HS code which does not allow differentiation of the individual chemicals or of mixtures.
This document outlines a proactive interim approach, as recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO), to establish additional digits in the existing national HS codes to identify specific HFCs. This practical document is intended for National Ozone Officers, customs agencies, customs officers in the field, and others involved in controlling trade in HFCs.
Download: HS Codes for HFCs - Advice for Countries in Advance of the 2022 HS Code Update
