UK: Ozone layer depletion

United Kingdom

As a Party to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, the UK has prepared its transition strategy for CFC-based Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs). MDIs are widely used by asthma sufferers and over the next three years, CFC-free inhalers are to be phased in. More than 39 million inhalers are used annually in the UK requiring some 800 tons of CFCs in their production. Existing MDIs use mainly CFC-12 which is both an ozone-depleter and a greenhouse gas. The substitute propellant HFC-134a does not deplete the ozone layer and has a significantly lower global warming potential.
(DETR, September 1999)