The Department of Environment and Energy have revealed that a NSW-based importer has been fined thousands of dollars for importing vehicles with air conditioning units containing a common refrigerant gas, without an appropriate licence.
The Department revealed in their media release that the importer had been fined $12,600 for the illegal act and had also incurred significant warehousing costs and business delays, as a result of their failure to obtain an appropriate licence before importation.
Synthetic greenhouse gases, such as refrigerant gases, damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. The illegally imported goods contained a synthetic greenhouse gas which is 1,430 times as potent in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
The import and manufacture of products containing these ozone depleting substances is prohibited in Australia, unless a licence or exemption is held.
Importers and custom brokers should check import requirements of ozone depleting substances or synthetic greenhouse gases, including when they are contained in equipment, before importing or exporting goods. Adequate time should be allowed to apply for a licence or exemption if one is required, which may take up to 60 days.
In co-operation with the Australian Border Force, the Department of Environment and Energy has monitoring and inspection arrangements in place to ensure compliance with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and undertake enforcement activities where appropriate. The maximum penalty for each offence of importation is $2.1 million.
This news comes almost a month after the HFC phasedown came into effect.
Image via Pixabay.