The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, in coordination with the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection, held a meeting in Riyadh with public and private sector representatives specialized in the thermal insulating foam industry.
The meeting was held to discuss the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol which was adopted in 2016 to gradually reduce the production and consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), as well as to review the impact of adopting those amendments on the foam industry in Saudi Arabia, such as the need for the description and classification of manufactured thermal insulation products, the replacement of the ozone-depleting substances with ozone-friendly alternatives and the dependence on locally produced thermal insulation to ensure fair competition with foreign companies in the Saudi market.
Participants also discussed ways to manage sustainability of the foam sector, the determinants of final products, as well as other issues related to standards and codes. The private sector representatives also exchanged views on challenges facing them, and a set of recommendations were provided by all attendees at the end of the meeting to facilitate procedures of manufacturers' work and to improve environmental compliance.
Furthermore, the meeting was attended by representatives of the General Customs Authority, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment and the Saudi Standers, the Metrology and Quality Organization, along with representatives of foam manufacturing companies.