Decision 59/44

The Executive Committee decided:

1. To note that the Sub-group on the Production Sector had considered the “Analysis of the technical feasibility of redirecting HCFC-22 production from controlled uses to feedstock uses” prepared by the Fund Secretariat;
2. Also to note that the impact on costs of downstream facilities as a result of possible conversion were not addressed in the analysis but could be addressed in the context of technical audits;
3. To request:
   1. Eligible countries ready to phase out the production of HCFCs to submit a draft sector phase-out strategy (that should include an industrial rationalization strategy, as appropriate) and preliminary data on its HCFC plants, using the forms adopted at the 19^th Meeting of the Executive Committee (decision 19/36);
   2. Eligible countries ready to proceed with the phase-out of HCFC production to submit a request for auditing of their HCFC plants;
   3. The Secretariat to modify the terms of reference for the technical audit adopted at the 32^nd Meeting, as appropriate, to meet the audit needs of the production of HCFCs and to submit them to the Executive Committee for consideration as soon as possible but no later than the 61^st Meeting;
4. To acknowledge the importance of assuring the supply of pharmaceutical-grade CFCs for Parties with essential use exemptions in accordance with decision XXI/4 of the Twenty-First Meeting of the Parties;
5. To request the Secretariat to report to the 60^th Meeting on the terms and conditions under which the existing CFC production agreements with China and India and associated accelerated phase-out agreements might be modified, taking into account the discussion at the Sub-group in accordance with decision XXI/4, paragraph 6, of the Twenty-First Meeting of the Parties.
6. That the Sub-group on the Production Sector should review decision XXI/4, paragraph 6, at its next meeting;
7. To consider, within the Sub-group on the Production Sector, giving priority to phasing out production of HCFCs with larger ODP values first, taking into account national circumstances, and the requirements for parallel reductions in the consumption sector, consistent with decision XIX/6 of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Parties;
8. To defer the issue of a cut-off date until the Executive Committee had addressed the matter with respect to HCFC consumption;
9. To note that the Twenty-First Meeting of the Parties had:
   1. Encouraged Parties with essential use exemptions in 2010 to consider sourcing required pharmaceutical-grade CFCs initially from stockpiles where they were available and accessible;
   2. Encouraged Parties with stockpiles of pharmaceutical-grade CFCs potentially available for export to Parties with essential use exemptions in 2010 to notify the Ozone Secretariat of such quantities and a contact point by 31 December 2009;
   3. Decided that the Parties listed with authorized essential use exemptions should have full flexibility in sourcing the quantity of pharmaceutical-grade CFCs to the extent required for manufacturing metered-dose inhalers, either from imports or from domestic producers or from existing stockpiles;
10. To encourage Parties to take every practicable step consistent with Multilateral Fund programmes to ensure that the best available and environmentally safe substitutes and related technologies were transferred from Article 2 Parties to Article 5 Parties under fair and most favourable conditions; and
11. To promote substitutes, alternatives and practices in Multilateral Fund programmes to minimize other impacts on the environment, including on the climate, taking into account global-warming potential, energy use and other relevant factors whenever possible.