Federal Halocarbon Regulations information
Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 (SOR/2003-289) and regulations amending the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 (SOR/2009-221)
In Canada, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have legislation in place for the protection of the Ozone Layer and management of ozone-depleting substances and their halocarbon alternatives. The use and handling of these substances are regulated by the provinces and territories in their respective jurisdictions, and through the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 (FHR 2003) for refrigeration, air-conditioning, fire-extinguishing, and solvent systems under federal jurisdiction.
The FHR 2003 were published in August 2003 and amended in July 2009 under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The purpose of the FHR 2003 is to reduce and prevent emissions of ozone-depleting substances and of their halocarbon alternatives to the environment from air-conditioning, refrigeration, fire-extinguishing and solvent systems that are:
- located on federal or aboriginal lands; or
- owned by federal departments, boards and agencies, Crown corporations, or federal works and undertakings.
The FHR 2003 replaced the former Federal Halocarbon Regulations and incorporated new provisions to achieve an orderly transition from CFCs and Halons to alternative substances and technologies, reflecting Canada's Strategy to Accelerate the Phase-Out of CFC and Halon Uses and to Dispose of the Surplus Stocks.
The July 2009 amendments to the FHR 2003 addressed comments and recommendations of the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations to improve the regulatory text. In addition, these amendments updated the references to the two Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada standards that were revised and translated in 2004, and corrected editorial oversights that had been identified in the FHR 2003. The amendments did not change the intent or scope of the FHR 2003.
View full text of the consolidated Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 in HTML or View full text of the consolidated Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 in PDF (225 KB)
View full text of the original Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 (available in PDF only) (227 KB)
View full text of the Regulations Amending the Federal Halocarbon Regulations 2003 in HTML or View full text of the Regulations Amending the Federal Halocarbon Regulations 2003 in PDF (2351 KB)
Proposed revisions to the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003
Environment Canada is in the initial stages of revising the FHR 2003. The proposed revisions aim to continue minimizing releases of halocarbons to the environment while addressing various administrative and operational issues in a practical manner.
A consultation document was prepared to provide information on the issues that have been encountered in implementing the FHR 2003. Stakeholders and Aboriginal groups were encouraged to review this Consultation Document and provide input on the proposed revisions by March 31, 2013.
Four public consultation meetings and two webinars regarding the proposed revisions were conducted in March 2013. A report on these consultation meetings is available.
Permit application forms under the FHR 2003
Under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003, permits are required for certain activities related to specified systems. These application forms are being offered as an online service and are available in Portable Document Format (PDF) only as a signature is required. Once you have accessed the form, you must print the form and fill in the fields by hand for submission by mail or fax.
Ozone Layer Protection and Export Controls
Chemical Production Division
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 11th floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Fax: 819-938-4218
For the PDF version, you must have a PDF reader on your computer. If you do not, see our Help on accessing documents in PDF format page.
- Request for a Permit to install a Fire-Extinguishing System or a Solvent System (115 KB)
- Request for a Permit to Charge a Fire-Extinguishing System with a Halocarbon or to Use a Halocarbon as a Solvent in a Solvent System (117 KB)
Technical Assistance
If you have problems accessing any of these forms, please contact ec.gestionhalocarbures-halocarbonsmanagement.ec@canada.ca.
Service logs, notices and release reports templates under the FHR 2003
Under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003, services logs, notices and release reports are required for certain activities related to specified systems.
For requirements under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003, please refer to the full text and any amendments of these Regulations.
Templates are available upon request. Please contact ec.gestionhalocarbures-halocarbonsmanagement.ec@canada.ca
Fact sheets and frequently asked questions
- What you need to know about the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 (Environmental protection on federal and Aboriginal lands - a guide for individuals and organizations)
- Frequently Asked Questions on the Federal Halocarbon Regulations 2003
- Information Pertaining to Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Systems
- Information for Service Contractors Pertaining to Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Systems
- Information Pertaining to Chillers
- Information Pertaining to Fire-extinguishing Systems
- Phase-out and Disposal of Halons in Fire-extinguishing Systems in Canada
Codes of practice
Contact information and addresses for reporting releases of halocarbons
New Brunswick, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Emergency Number (verbal reporting):
1-800-565-1633* or (902) 426-6030 for New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Nova Scotia
1-800-563-9089* or (709) 772-2083 for Newfoundland and Labrador
Mailing Address (written reporting):
Regional Director
Environmental Enforcement Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
16th floor, Queen Square
45 Alderney Drive
Dartmouth NS B2Y 2N6
Fax: 902-426-7924
email: ec.rfh-2003-atl-fhr-2003-atl.ec@canada.ca
Quebec
Emergency Number (verbal reporting): 1-866-283-2333* or (514) 283-2333
Mailing Address (written reporting):
Regional Director
Environmental Enforcement Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
105 McGill Street (3rd floor)
Montreal QC H2Y 2E7
Fax: 514-496-2087
email : ec.installationsfederalesqc-federalfacilitiesqc.ec@canada.ca
Ontario
Emergency Number (verbal reporting): 1-800-268-6060* or (416) 325-3000
Mailing Address (written reporting):
Regional Director
Environmental Enforcement Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Center for Inland Waters
867 Lakeshore Rd.
Burlington ON L7N 3P3
Fax: 905-333-3952
email: ec.fhr.ontario.ec@canada.ca
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, N.W.T., Nunavut
Emergency Number (verbal reporting):
(204) 944-4888 for Manitoba
1-800-667-7525 for Saskatchewan
(780) 422-4505 or 1-800-222-6514* for Alberta
(867) 920-8130 for Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Mailing Address (written reporting):
Regional Director
Environmental Enforcement Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Eastgate Offices
9250 - 49 Street NW
Edmonton AB T6B 1K5
Fax: 780-495-2451
email: ec.dale-rpn-enforcement-pnr.ec@canada.ca
British Columbia and Yukon Territory
Emergency Number (verbal reporting):
1-800-663-3456 for British Columbia
(867) 667-7244 for Yukon
Mailing Address (written reporting):
Regional Director
Environmental Enforcement Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
201-401 Burrard Street (4th floor)
Vancouver BC V6C 3S5
Fax: 604-666-9059
email: ec.pydalerfh-pyeedfhr.ec@canada.ca
* Telephone number accessible only within the respective province.
Regional contacts for the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003
British Columbia, Yukon Territory
Steve Arrell
telephone: 867-393-6847
email: ec.rfhprocomrpy-fhrcompropyr.ec@canada.ca
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, NWT, Nunavut
Ayesha Sohail
telephone: (780) 951-8861
email: ec.promconrpn-compropnr.ec@canada.ca
Quebec
Hélène Bourassa
telephone: (514) 283-6216
email: ec.rfhqc-fhrqc.ec@canada.ca
Ontario
Lisa McClemens
telephone: (613) 949-8278
email: ec.promcon-on-compro.ec@canada.ca
New Brunswick, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Adam Fancy
telephone: (902) 426- 8066
email: ec.rfh-2003-atl-fhr-2003-atl.ec@canada.ca
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