Guidance

Applying for a licence to import or export ozone-depleting substances

You must have a licence to import or export ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to and from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

When you need a licence

You need a licence to import and export ODS for:

  • use as a feedstock (bulk ODS that are chemically transformed into other substances)
  • use as a process agent
  • laboratory and analytical use
  • halons for critical uses, for example in aircraft fire extinguishing systems or military equipment
  • metered dose inhalers (for export only – you cannot import metered dose inhalers containing ODS)
  • destruction (for import only – you cannot export ODS for destruction)

You need a licence to trade all groups of regulated ODS (except Part A and Part B substances) with Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. 

Aircraft

You need a licence if you want to:

  • import an aircraft containing halons for critical use into Great Britain
  • export an aircraft containing halons for critical use outside of Great Britain
  • import critical use halons for your aircraft into Great Britain
  • export critical use halons for your aircraft outside of Great Britain

You do not need a licence if you import or export halons in aircraft under temporary admissions procedures for less than 45 days.

Apply for a licence

You must:

  1. Register for an account on the ODS service.
  2. Apply for an ODS licence.

It is against the law to import or export ODS without a valid import or export licence, or to import or export ODS for any other uses. You could be prosecuted if you break the law.
Read the Environment Agency’s enforcement and sanctions policy.

Updates to this page

Published 16 October 2019
Last updated 29 July 2021 show all updates
  1. Licence information added for trade with Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

  2. Updated with guidance on applying for a licence to import or export ODS from 1 January.

  3. First published.

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