As one of the world's largest producers of two ozone-depleting chemicals, China has honored its promise to phase out the substances ahead of schedule by banning the production and import of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halon.

The remaining six factories involved in the production of CFCs agreed to ceased operations from Sunday, marking the end of the manufacture of ozone depleting substances (ODS) in the country.

The move put China two-and-a-half years ahead of the Montreal Protocol's 2010 deadline for the phase-out of CFC and halon.

As the biggest producer and consumer of CFCs and halon among developing nations, China has disposed of about 100,000 tons of CFCs and about 80,000 tons of halon since it signed up to the Montreal Protocol in 1991, said Zhang Lijun, vice-minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

At the end of last month, eight industries involved in the use and production of CFCs and halon had banned the two substances.

The final six factories producing CFCs - two in Jiangsu and four in Zhejiang - agreed to stop production in a deal with the SEPA in Changshu in East China's Jiangsu Province on Saturday.

"The closure of these plants demonstrates China's continued commitment to meet its obligations under the treaty to phase out these chemicals," Zhang said.

"Industry and consumers both here and in Asia Pacific must realize that there will soon be significant reductions in ozone depleting chemicals and that we should be prepared for the changes that are to come."

Katherine Sierra, vice-president for sustainable development at the World Bank, said: "Action taken by China today will contribute significantly to global efforts to avert a catastrophic impact on humans and the ecosystem."

Without the Montreal Protocol, levels of ozone depleting substances in the atmosphere would have increased tenfold by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

It could have led to up to 20 million more cases of skin cancer and 130 million more cases of eye cataracts, the UNEP said.

Research carried out this year has shown the phase-outs are having a positive impact including on climate change, it said.

CFCs are used in refrigerators and air conditioners, while halon is found in fire extinguishers. The two have been identified as the main substances damaging the earth's ozone layer.

Ozone shields the planet from the sun's harmful ultraviolet-B radiation. It also completely screens out lethal UV-C radiation.

Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was signed by 24 nations in 1987, developed countries agreed to phase out the chemicals by January 1, 2005, while developing countries have a January 1, 2015, deadline.

China signed the protocol in 1991 and pledged to phase out major ODS production and consumption by 2010.

Xinhua contributed to the story

(China Daily 07/03/2007 page3)