The Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is hosting a three-day National Ozone Unit and Customs Twinning Workshop and Border Dialogue for countries of the SADC region.

Delegates from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are attending the workshop, aimed at addressing the trade and control of ozone depleting substances.

In her remarks, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industrialisation, Verna Sinimbo said the joint customs training between borders allows for knowledge sharing in Ozone Depleting Substances control, including trade between the countries.

“This platform also allows for countries to harmonise their policies on the control of substances under the Montreal Protocol. Namibia follows the Import and Export Act 30 of 1994 which includes Trade Control Measures of Ozone Depleting Substances under the Montreal Protocol and Government Gazette No. 148 of 2020 which includes the Ozone Depleting Substances under the Kigali Amendment; the Kigali Amendment puts control measures on substances that are high in global warming potential,” Sinimbo said.

She also revealed that Namibia has recorded improvement on the illegal trade or importation of Ozone Depleting Substances under the Montreal Protocol and remains compliant through its efforts to adhere to its obligation of the Montreal Protocol.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency