A package of legislative changes to improve the air conditioning refrigerant management system

Since 1996, Georgia has been a party to the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. In accordance with the commitment, Georgia annually reduces the consumption of ozone-depleting substances, which are mainly used as refrigerants in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector.

In 2016, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was adopted, which aims to phase out the consumption of refrigerants with very high global warming potential. Preparatory work for the ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is currently underway at the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

In order to promote the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the ratification process of the Kigali Amendment, as well as in accordance with the commitment of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union, a package of legislative changes was prepared, which provides for the improvement of the system for regulating the consumption of air conditioning refrigerants, increasing the quality of services in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, and reducing the release of hazardous substances to the environment. In particular, requirements are set for the collection, recovery, recycling, and destruction of refrigerants. The package of legislative changes was developed within the institutional strengthening project, with the support of the United Nations Development Program, the Caucasus Regional Environmental Center, and the Association of Engineers of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Equipment and Air Conditioners of Georgia.

The package covers draft amendments to the Law of Georgia "On Ambient Air Protection", the Law of Georgia "On Licences and Permits" and the "Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia".

Acceptance of comments and proposals regarding the package of legislative changes is scheduled until September 14 of this year.

Please email us your comments. Email: noe.megrelishvili@mepa.gov.ge