By Habitat Media Reporter
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is stepping up efforts to control the importation and use of ozone-depleting substances, with the government warning consumers and traders against banned refrigerants and second-hand cooling equipment containing environmentally harmful gases.
The government has also announced plans to strengthen controls at major entry points and train customs and enforcement officers to identify prohibited chemicals and equipment entering the country.
Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Union and Environment, Hamad Yussuf Masauni, issued the warning in Dar es Salaam on September 14, ahead of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, observed globally on September 16.
He singled out used refrigerators, air conditioners and other cooling equipment as products requiring particular attention because they may contain refrigerants that harm the ozone layer or contribute to global warming.
Masauni said protecting the ozone layer remained critical because it acts as the Earth’s protective shield by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the surface.
Damage to the ozone layer increases exposure to ultraviolet radiation, raising the risk of skin cancer, cataracts, weakened immune systems and premature skin ageing.
Ozone depletion can also affect plants and ecosystems, while some refrigerants used in cooling systems are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
“Various human activities contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, particularly the use of chemicals in refrigerators and air conditioners, fire-extinguishing equipment, metal cleaning, mattress manufacturing, soil fumigation in tobacco nurseries, floriculture and grain storage,” Masauni said.
Refrigerants under scrutiny
Refrigeration and air-conditioning systems have become essential in homes, offices, hospitals, hotels, supermarkets and industries.
However, the environmental impact of some chemicals used in these systems has prompted a global transition towards safer alternatives.
Masauni urged Tanzanians to choose products carrying recognised “ozone friendly” labels or those using substances with low global warming potential.
He also cautioned against careless disposal of old refrigerators and fire extinguishers, which may contain chemicals capable of damaging the ozone layer or contributing to global warming.
Proper handling of obsolete cooling equipment is particularly important because refrigerants can escape into the atmosphere when appliances are dismantled, damaged or disposed of without appropriate recovery procedures.
Tanzania strengthens controls at entry points
The government is also turning its attention to the points through which refrigerants and cooling equipment enter the country.
As part of this year’s Ozone Day activities, the Vice-President’s Office plans to work with stakeholders to train customs and enforcement officers from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) at the Port of Dar es Salaam and Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) through Julius Nyerere International Airport.
The training is intended to strengthen the identification and control of prohibited chemicals and equipment at the country’s major entry points.
Public awareness campaigns will also be conducted to educate communities about the importance of protecting the ozone layer and encourage greater use of environmentally friendly chemicals and technologies.
From Montreal to Kigali
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, the landmark international agreement established to phase out chemicals responsible for damaging the ozone layer.
This year’s commemoration also comes a decade after the adoption of the Kigali Amendment in 2016, which expanded global efforts to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with high global-warming potential.
Although HFCs do not destroy the ozone layer in the same way as substances originally targeted under the Montreal Protocol, many are potent greenhouse gases. Reducing their use therefore connects the transition to cleaner cooling technologies with wider efforts to address climate change.
“The implementation of these amendments demonstrates how the world can come together to address emerging environmental challenges,” Masauni said.
Consumers have a role
Beyond government regulation, Masauni said Tanzania’s progress would also depend on choices made by consumers, businesses, importers and technicians.
He urged Tanzanians to participate actively in protecting the ozone layer by avoiding environmentally harmful products and ensuring that old equipment is handled responsibly.
He also called on journalists to continue educating communities about ozone protection and environmentally responsible consumption.
Through stronger border controls, safer cooling technologies and informed consumer choices, Tanzania aims to reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances and high-global-warming refrigerants.
For households, businesses and institutions, the message is increasingly clear: the choice of cooling equipment today can have environmental consequences long after the appliance has reached the end of its useful life.