Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2019 (Cth)
I, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following regulations.
Dated 12 December 2019
David Hurley
Governor‑General
By His Excellency’s Command
Sussan Ley
Minister for the Environment
Contents
This instrument is the
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2019 .
(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
The whole of this instrument | Immediately after the commencement of Schedule 3 to the | 1 January 2020 |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
This instrument is made under the
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 .
Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
Insert:
Note: A number of expressions used in these Regulations are defined in the Act, including 100‑year global warming potential.
Insert:
extinguishing agent has the meaning given by regulation 301.
fire protection equipment has the meaning given by regulation 301.
GWP extinguishing agent has the meaning given by subregulation 2AAB(5).Note: GWP is short for 100‑year global warming potential.
GWP refrigerant has the meaning given by subregulation 2AAA(5).
prohibited extinguishing agent charging has the meaning given by subregulation 2AAB(3).
prohibited refrigerant charging has the meaning given by subregulation 2AAA(3).
Add:
Scope of this regulation
(1) This regulation applies in relation to equipment that is designed:
(a) to be used for the heating or cooling of anything; and
(b) to operate solely by using a particular refrigerant (the
design refrigerant ) other than an HCFC refrigerant.(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), equipment is taken to be designed to operate solely by using a particular refrigerant if:
(a) the equipment has a compliance plate that specifies that particular refrigerant; or
(b) both of the following subparagraphs apply:
(i) a manual, issued by the manufacturer, that relates to the equipment states that the equipment is designed to operate solely by using that particular refrigerant;
(ii) the equipment does not have a compliance plate that specifies any particular refrigerant.
Meaning of prohibited refrigerant charging
(3) A person engages in
prohibited refrigerant charging if:
(a) the person charges the equipment with a GWP refrigerant (the
new refrigerant ) other than the design refrigerant; and(b) either:
(i) the design refrigerant is not a scheduled substance; or
(ii) the design refrigerant is a GWP refrigerant and the new refrigerant has a higher 100‑year global warming potential than the design refrigerant; and
(c) subregulation (4) does not apply.
(4) This subregulation applies if:
(a) the continued functioning of the equipment is essential for health or public safety purposes; and
(b) no refrigerant that:
(i) is not a GWP refrigerant; or
(ii) is the design refrigerant; or
(iii) has a 100‑year global warming potential equal to or lower than that of the design refrigerant;
is available as an alternative to the new refrigerant to ensure the continued functioning of the equipment.
Meaning of GWP refrigerant
(5) A
GWP refrigerant is an HCFC or HFC for which a 100‑year global warming potential is specified in Part V or IX of Schedule 1 to the Act.
Scope of this regulation
(1) This regulation applies in relation to fire protection equipment that is designed to operate solely by using a particular extinguishing agent (the
design extinguishing agent ) other than an HCFC extinguishing agent.(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), equipment is taken to be designed to operate solely by using a particular extinguishing agent if documentation, issued by the manufacturer, that relates to the operation of the equipment states that the equipment is designed to operate solely by using that particular extinguishing agent.
Meaning of prohibited extinguishing agent charging
(3) A person engages in
prohibited extinguishing agent charging if:
(a) the person charges the equipment with a GWP extinguishing agent (the
new extinguishing agent ) other than the design extinguishing agent; and(b) either:
(i) the design extinguishing agent is not a scheduled substance; or
(ii) the design extinguishing agent is a GWP extinguishing agent and the new extinguishing agent has a higher 100‑year global warming potential than the design extinguishing agent; and
(c) subregulation (4) does not apply.
(4) This subregulation applies if:
(a) the continued functioning of the equipment is essential:
(i) for public safety purposes; or
(ii) to protect assets or infrastructure that are critical to the community; and
(b) no extinguishing agent that:
(i) is not a GWP extinguishing agent; or
(ii) is the design extinguishing agent; or
(iii) has a 100‑year global warming potential equal to or lower than that of the design extinguishing agent;
is available as an alternative to the new extinguishing agent to ensure the continued functioning of the equipment.
Meaning of GWP extinguishing agent
(5) A
GWP extinguishing agent is an HCFC or HFC for which a 100‑year global warming potential is specified in Part V or IX of Schedule 1 to the Act.
Insert:
(1) A person commits an offence of strict liability if the person engages in prohibited refrigerant charging.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) of this regulation, subregulation 2AAA(4) (about equipment that is essential for health or public safety purposes) is taken not to apply unless evidence is adduced to the contrary.
Insert:
(ba) does not engage in prohibited refrigerant charging; and
Insert:
(ba) does not engage in prohibited refrigerant charging; and
Insert:
(1) A person commits an offence of strict liability if the person engages in prohibited extinguishing agent charging.
Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) of this regulation, subregulation 2AAB(4) (about equipment that is essential for public safety purposes or to protect critical assets or infrastructure) is taken not to apply unless evidence is adduced to the contrary.
Insert:
(aa) does not engage in prohibited extinguishing agent charging; and
Insert:
(ba) does not engage in prohibited extinguishing agent charging; and
Insert:
1A | Subregulation 111A(1) | Prohibited refrigerant charging |
Insert:
10A | Subregulation 303A(1) | Prohibited extinguishing agent charging |
Omit “a refrigerant”, substitute “any or all of CFC, HCFC, HFC, PFC and halon”.
Omit “licence”, substitute “permit”.
Omit “or 134.”, substitute “or 134; and”.
Insert:
(1) For the purposes of subsection 45C(2) of the Act, an HCFC that was manufactured or imported on or after 1 January 2020 may be used for the purpose of servicingRAC equipment.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the RAC equipment was manufactured or imported on or after 1 January 2020.
Insert:
(1) For the purposes of subsection 45C(2) of the Act, an HCFC that was manufactured or imported on or after 1 January 2020 may be used for the purpose of maintaining fire protection equipment.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the fire protection equipment was manufactured or imported on or after 1 January 2020.
Insert:
ABN (short for Australian Business Number) has the same meaning as in theA New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 .
Insert:
non‑QPS permit means a permit granted under subregulation 235(1).
After “methyl bromide” (first occurring), insert “during a reporting period”.
Omit “a quarter”, substitute “the period”.
Omit “quarter”, substitute “period”.
Omit “uses; and”, substitute “uses.”.
Repeal the paragraph.
Insert:
Note 1: A
reporting period is a period of 6 months starting on 1 January or 1 July—see section 7 of the Act.
Omit “Note”, substitute “Note 2”.
Insert:
(1A) Subregulation (1) does not apply to a sale of methyl bromide if the whole amount of methyl bromide sold is declared by the buyer for the purposes of paragraph 220(1)(e) to be for QPS uses.
(1B) Without limiting subregulation (1), the supplier may comply with that subregulation by giving separate reports in relation to each half of the reporting period.
Omit “report period”, substitute “reporting period”.
Insert:
Note 1: A
reporting period is a period of 6 months starting on 1 January or 1 July—see section 7 of the Act.
Omit “Note”, substitute “Note 2”.
Omit “report period”, substitute “reporting period”.
Repeal the subregulation.
Insert:
(1) A person who is granted a non‑QPS permit (the
emergency permit ) in accordance with paragraph 235(2)(b) must, within 14 days after using methyl bromide under the emergency permit, give the Minister a report of the use that:
(a) is in an approved form; and
(b) sets out the information mentioned in subregulation (2); and
(c) is signed by the permit holder and by any contractor who carried out a fumigation under the emergency permit.
Note: It is an offence to give false or misleading information to a Commonwealth entity—see section 137.1 of the
Criminal Code .Penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), the information is:
(a) the name, address and ABN (if any) of the permit holder; and
(b) in relation to each occasion on which methyl bromide is used (the
emergency fumigation ) by, or on behalf of, the permit holder in accordance with the emergency permit:
(i) the date of the emergency fumigation; and
(ii) the amount of methyl bromide used; and
(iii) the kind of produce for which, or to which, the methyl bromide was applied; and
(iv) the application rate at which the methyl bromide was applied; and
(v) the number of hectares fumigated or the number of containers (and the volume of each container) fumigated, using the methyl bromide; and
(vi) if the emergency fumigation was carried out by a contractor—the name, address, telephone number and ABN (if any) of the contractor.
(3) An offence against subregulation (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Repeal the paragraphs, substitute:
(a) both:
(i) the Minister has consulted the parties to the Montreal Protocol; and
(ii) having regard to any advice received as a result of such consultation, the Minister is satisfied that it is appropriate to grant the permit; or
(b) the Minister is satisfied that:
(i) an emergency situation exists; and
(ii) it is appropriate to grant the permit to deal with the emergency situation.
Insert:
(3A) A non‑QPS permit granted in accordance with paragraph (2)(b) must not permit the use of more than 20 tonnes of methyl bromide to deal with the emergency covered by the permit.
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
(ii) the methyl bromide is used at the geographical location specified in the permit;
Insert:
(7A) If the Minister grants a non‑QPS permit in accordance with paragraph (2)(b), the Minister must, as soon as practicable after the methyl bromide has been used to deal with the emergency situation for which the permit was granted, notify the parties to the Montreal Protocol of the following:
(a) the amount of methyl bromide used;
(b) the purpose for which the methyl bromide was used;
(c) the kind of produce for which, or to which, the methyl bromide was applied;
(d) details of the emergency situation that required the use of methyl bromide;
(e) the reasons why alternative treatments were not suitable to deal with the emergency situation.
Insert:
(1A) This regulation does not apply in relation to a non‑QPS permit granted in accordance with paragraph 235(2)(b).
After “permit”, insert “(other than a permit granted in accordance with paragraph 235(2)(b))”.
Add:
(5) The Minister may waive the application fee for an equipment licence if:
(a) the purpose of the licence is to allow the import of equipment containing 25 kilograms or less of HCFC; and
(b) in relation to such equipment:
(i) the Minister is satisfied that subsection 16(6B) of the Act applies; or
(ii) paragraph 3E(1)(a) of these Regulations applies.
Omit “or (4)”, substitute “, (4) or (5)”.
Repeal the regulation, substitute:
(1) For the purposes of subparagraph 16(6A)(a)(ii) of the Act, the following section 69G activities are prescribed:
(a) manufacturing equipment that contains HCFCs or uses HCFCs in its operation,orimporting suchequipment, if the equipment is covered by subregulation (2);
(b) importing replacement parts for existing HCFC refrigeration or air conditioning equipment;
(c) importing equipment insulated with foam manufactured with HCFC;
(d) importing equipment if the Minister considers that:
(i) it would be impracticable for the importer to comply with subsection 13(1) of the Act in relation to importing the equipment; and
(ii) it would be impracticable to remove or retrofit the equipment because it is incidental to other equipment that is being imported.
Example: For subparagraph (d)(ii), air conditioning equipment incorporated into a large boat or drilling rig.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), this subregulation covers equipment if:
(a) the equipment is intended to be used for one or more of the following purposes:
(i) test purposes;
(ii) monitoring purposes;
(iii) laboratory and analytical purposes; and
(b) no practical alternative equipment exists that:
(i) would be effective for the purpose or purposes for which the equipment is intended to be used as mentioned in paragraph (a); and
(ii) does not use HCFCs in its operation.
Insert:
(ca) a decision under subregulation 3C(5) to refuse to waive the fee for an equipment licence;
Insert:
For the purposes of section 69G of the Act, this Division prohibits or regulates the manufacture, import, export, distribution or use of equipment that:
(a) contains scheduled substances; or
(b) uses scheduled substances in its operation.
A person commits an offence of strict liability if:
(a) the person carries out an activity; and
(b) carrying out the activity contravenes Subdivision 9.1.2.
Note 1: A person does not contravene Subdivision 9.1.2 by carrying out an activity if the person holds an equipment licence that allows the activity—see subsection 69G(4) of the Act.
Note 2: For an exception to Subdivision 9.1.2 for certain private or domestic use, see subsection 69G(5) of the Act.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
A person must not manufacture or import equipment that:
(a) contains HCFCs; or
(b) uses HCFCs in its operation.
Omit “paragraph 14(1)(aa)”, substitute “the purposes of paragraph 14(2)(aa)”.
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
(b) the Minister is satisfied that the manufacture, import or export is for:
(i) test purposes; or
(ii) monitoring purposes; or
(iii) laboratory and analytical purposes.
Insert:
(ba) does not have the knowledge, ability and experience necessary to competently carry out the work covered by the permit; or
Insert:
(ba) refund application fees in accordance with regulation 121B;
Omit “The”, substitute “Subject to regulation 121B, the”.
Insert:
(1) The Minister may, in a circumstance specified in subregulation (3), refund the whole or part of a fee (the
application fee ) paid by a person for an RAC industry permit.(2) The Minister may do so on the Minister’s own initiative or on written application by the person.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (1), the following circumstances are specified:
(a) the person has paid the application fee more than once in respect of the same permit;
(b) the person has paid more than the application fee required to be paid for the permit;
(c) all of the following apply:
(i) the person applied, and paid the application fee, for the wrong type of permit;
(ii) that application has not been decided;
(iii) the person applied, and paid the application fee, for the correct type of permit;
(d) both of the following apply:
(i) the person applied, and paid the application fee, for a renewal of the permit more than 6 months before the permit’s expiry date;
(ii) the application has not been decided;
(e) the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds that it is appropriate in all the circumstances to refund the whole or part of the application fee paid by the person for the permit.
Omit “or”.
Add:
(iv) a refusal to refund the whole or part of a fee paid by a person for a permit; or
Insert:
(ba) refund application fees in accordance with regulation 313A;
Add:
(4) An applicant may withdraw an application at any time before the relevant authority decides the application.
(5) An applicant is taken to have withdrawn an application if:
(a) the relevant authority asks the applicant for information or consent; and
(b) the applicant does not provide the information or consent within 6 months of the authority’s request.
(6) Subject to regulation 313A, the fee for an application is not refundable if the applicant withdraws the application or the application is taken to have been withdrawn.
54
At the end of Subdivision 6A.4.2 of Division 6A.4 of Part 6A Add:
(1) The Minister may, in a circumstance specified in subregulation (3), refund the whole or part of a fee (the
application fee ) paid by a person for a fire protection industry permit.(2) The Minister may do so on the Minister’s own initiative or on written application by the person.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (1), the following circumstances are specified:
(a) the person has paid the application fee more than once in respect of the same permit;
(b) the person has paid more than the application fee required to be paid for the permit;
(c) all the following apply:
(i) the person applied, and paid the application fee, for the wrong type of permit;
(ii) that application has not been decided;
(iii) the person applied, and paid the application fee, for the correct type of permit;
(d) both of the following apply:
(i) the person applied, and paid the application fee, for a renewal of the permit more than 6 months before the permit’s expiry date;
(ii) the application has not been decided;
(e) the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds that it is appropriate in all the circumstances to refund the whole or part of the application fee paid by the person for the permit.
Omit “or”.
Add:
(iv) a refusal to refund the whole or part of a fee paid by a person for a fire protection industry permit; or
Insert:
In this Division:
amending regulations means theOzone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2019 .
(1) Regulation 111A applies to engaging in prohibited refrigerant charging on or after 1 January 2020, whether the relevant equipment was imported or manufactured before, on or after 1 January 2020.
(2) Paragraph 135(1)(ba) applies to engaging in prohibited refrigerant charging on or after 1 January 2020, whether:
(a) the relevant equipment was imported or manufactured before, on or after 1 January 2020; or
(b) the relevant licence was granted before, on or after 1 January 2020.
(3) Paragraph 141(1)(ba) applies to engaging in prohibited refrigerant charging on or after 1 January 2020, whether:
(a) the relevant equipment was imported or manufactured before, on or after 1 January 2020; or
(b) the relevant authorisation was granted before, on or after 1 January 2020.
(1) Regulation 303A applies to engaging in prohibited extinguishing agent charging on or after 1 January 2020, whether the relevant equipment was imported or manufactured before, on or after 1 January 2020.
(2) Paragraph 326(1)(aa) applies to engaging in prohibited extinguishing agent charging on or after 1 January 2020, whether:
(a) the relevant equipment was imported or manufactured before, on or after 1 January 2020; or
(b) the relevant licence was granted before, on or after 1 January 2020.
(3) Paragraph 332(1)(ba) applies to engaging in prohibited extinguishing agent charging on or after 1 January 2020, whether:
(a) the relevant equipment was imported or manufactured before, on or after 1 January 2020; or
(b) the relevant authorisation was granted before, on or after 1 January 2020.
The amendments of regulation 230 made by the amending regulations apply in relation to reporting periods starting on or after 1 January 2020.
Equipment licences
(1) Subregulation 3C(5) applies to waiving an application fee on or after 1 January 2020, whether the application was made before, on or after 1 January 2020.
(2) The amendment of regulation 3E made by the amending regulations applies in relation to a licence granted on or after 1 January 2020 if:
(a) the application for the licence was made before that day and had not been finally determined as at 1 January 2020; or
(b) the application for the licence is made on or after 1 January 2020.
Miscellaneous
(3) The amendment of paragraph 3C(2)(b) made by the amending regulations applies in relation to waiving an application fee on or after 1 January 2020, whether the application was made before, on or after 1 January 2020.
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