Shipment of Chlorodifluoromethane or Refrigerant gas R22 originating from China was imported via Dubai to Pakistan. Cargo was declared as R32 (Difluoromethane) and the tank displayed large stickers as the content is R32 however the container was not classified as flammable.

Pakistan Custom officer Asim Awan noticed this discrepancy and informed same to appraisement officer, Rahmatullah Vistro, who had received training to  detect ozone depleting substances through misdeclaration, mislabeling and other methods. Tank temperature and pressure did not correspond to R32 gas, upon testing sample it was confirmed the gas is R22.

R32 is flammable Gas –
UN 3252 DIFLUOROMETHANE (REFRIGERANT GAS R 32) – Class 2.1

R22 is non-flammable non-toxic gas –
UN 1018 CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE (REFRIGERANT GAS R 22) – Class 2.2

Shaofeng Hu (Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific, Montreal Protocol)said “Custom’s vigilance was critical to this important seizure”

https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/pakistan-customs-seize-massive-smuggled-shipment-ozone-depleting-gas

Know the importance of Customs, in protecting environment and standing against Global Warming !

Those who are in  logistics, freight forwarding and transport industry must be familiar with United Nations’ Conventions and Protocols together with Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Dangerous Goods departments of shipping lines cross check various Regulations, Conventions and Protocols including Embargoes before accepting goods for loading. Below is a non-exhaustive list of information verified against shipping papers.

• IMDG Code
• 49 CFR
• TDG Canada
• ADR
• RID
• Other National Regulations when needed
• Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary (or similar)
• Chemical Weapon Convention (Australia Group)
• UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
• Bamako, Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions
• Montreal Protocol
• US Embargo
• EU Embargo

To know more about shipping lines’ dangerous goods acceptance process, click here