China is carrying out national inspections on foam industries to crack down on illegal production of ozone depleting substances (ODS) widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners.
The move came after London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a nonprofit organization, reported in July that dozens of Chinese companies were using CFC-11, a banned chemical that could exacerbate global warming, when producing foam.
According to Reuters, China, the world’s largest consumer of polyurethane foam, promised to outlaw ODS chemicals including CFC-11 and similar substances when it joined the Montreal Protocol in 1991.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said in a statement: “We will dispatch inspectors from the ministry and also ask local authorities to conduct self-checks on all companies involved in foam production. This action is to ensure companies comply with the protocol.”
But the ministry also admitted that it is hard to uncover the illegal production as the companies involved typically conceal their operations from authorities.
The move came after London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a nonprofit organization, reported in July that dozens of Chinese companies were using CFC-11, a banned chemical that could exacerbate global warming, when producing foam.
According to Reuters, China, the world’s largest consumer of polyurethane foam, promised to outlaw ODS chemicals including CFC-11 and similar substances when it joined the Montreal Protocol in 1991.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said in a statement: “We will dispatch inspectors from the ministry and also ask local authorities to conduct self-checks on all companies involved in foam production. This action is to ensure companies comply with the protocol.”
But the ministry also admitted that it is hard to uncover the illegal production as the companies involved typically conceal their operations from authorities.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
