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A CRIME AGAINST NATURE Executive Summary   Introduction   Ozone Update   Bursco Investigation   Black Market   Halon Trade Fanning The Flames   US Halon Market   Chinese Connection   CFC Trade   Phase-out   Action   The Halon Trade - Hot Profits Extensive investigations by EIA have revealed information which raises serious doubts about the true nature of many recent halon imports into the developed world, particularly the US, with inconsistencies in the information supplied by several of the firms involved in halon shipments, in both the exporting and importing countries. The production ban on halons in non-Article 5 countries coupled with the continuing essential use exemptions has created a profitable and well-organised reclamation industry and an international trade in used halon 1301. A number of firms have invested in the capital-intensive task of reclaiming halons, including Chubb Fire in the UK, Bergensomradets Intercommunale Renovasjonsselskap in Norway, Pacific Scientific in the US and Control Fire Systems in Canada. These operations gather halon 1301 from businesses which are de-commissioning their existing halon systems and process the chemicals back to the original specification by removing impurities such as nitrogen and water. The reclaimed gas is then sold to essential users on the international market. With its large aerospace industry, sprawling military sector and hazardous oil exploration in Alaska, the US is the premier market for reclaimed halon 1301, although a substantial demand remains in Europe. Many Article 2 countries have developed halon banking systems to match supply with demand, such as the Halon Users' National Consortium in the UK, and the Halon Recycling Corporation in the US. next...