Halons are Ozone Depleting Substances whose use is banned under Regulation (EC) 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (the ODS Regulation) except, amongst others, for time limited periods as a fire extinguishing agent on board aircraft for the following specified critical uses: for the protection of normally unoccupied cargo compartments, cabins and crew compartments, engine nacelles and auxiliary power units, fuel tank inerting, lavatory waste receptacles and dry bays. Many aircraft in Ireland continue to use halons for these critical uses.
Under the Montreal Protocol, the European Union must report annually to the United Nations on these critical uses. To contribute to this report, Ireland must report to the European Commission on the quantities of halon installed, emitted, used, and stored for these critical uses within Ireland. The EPA, which is the Competent Authority for the ODS Regulations in Ireland, has been tasked with compiling Ireland’s annual national report. The EPA collates the data required to produce this report through an annual halon critical use survey of critical users, namely aircraft registered owners, aircraft maintenance/service companies and the Defence Forces.
Under powers conferred on it by Regulation 10(4) of the Control of Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 465 of 2011), the EPA requires that Halon Critical Users annually submit data on their critical use of halons for the previous calendar year. Under Regulation 7(1)(g) of this regulation, the EPA requires that this data is submitted between 1st January and 31st March each year using the Halon Critical Use Survey Reporting module within the EPA’s online EDEN platform at www.edenireland.ie.
Please note that is an offence under Regulation 12 of the Control of Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 465 of 2011) not to submit this return where required.
The information gathered from the halon critical use surveys will be treated confidentially. Only summary data collated from all the individual surveys will be included in the National Report for Ireland.
Critical Users should refer to the Halon Critical Use Survey Reporting Module in EDEN – Guidance Document (EPA, December 2022) for more information on how to submit their data.
If you have any queries, please contact the EPA at ods@epa.ie .
