Licences abolished for low volume imports of equipment containing ODS and SGG

The Department of the Environment has advised that from 4 November 2014, a licence is no longer required for a low volume import of equipment containing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) or Synthetic Greenhouse Gases (SGG), if all of the following conditions are met:

· there are no more than five units of ODS/SGG equipment in a single consignment; and
· there is less than 10 kg in total of HCFC, HFC, PFC, or SF6; and
· the importer has not had an import of ODS/SGG equipment in the past two years.

Ozone Depleting Substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases are commonly found in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment (as well as in electrical switchgear, aerosols and a wide range of other products). Previously, one-off, low volume importers of ODS/SGG equipment required a Low Volume Import Licence (LVIL) costing $400. From 4 November 2014, this licence has been abolished (low volume imports arriving before this date still need to be licensed). Regular importers of ODS/SGG equipment or importers exceeding the above threshold will continue to require a full ODS/SGG Equipment Licence (EQPL), costing $3,000.

The online application for an EQPL can be found on the Department of the Environment’s website (under the heading ‘Licence Application Forms’) at: http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/licences-and-reporting/forms

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