The Twenty-second Meeting of the Executive Committee decided to adopt the following guidelines:
(a) there is a presumption that the technology selected in all projects will be mature and that the projects will be implemented as approved;
(b) for projects approved after the adoption of these guidelines:
(i) projects are to be implemented as approved;
(ii) exemptions will be considered in the following circumstances:
a. the only other option would be cancellation of the project; or
b. the project approved is for conversion to a transitional technology, and the revised proposal is for conversion in a single step to non-transitional technology;
(iii) such proposals will be submitted to the Executive Committee for individual consideration, together with the Secretariat’s review and recommendations;
(iv) the revised proposals will be implemented within the level of funding already approved;
(c) for projects first approved before the adoption of these guidelines:
(i) recognizing that there have been delays in project implementation, with possible implications for technology choice, proposals for change in technology of projects approved before adoption of these guidelines may be submitted; the revised project must be implemented within the level of funding already approved. The new proposal must demonstrate that the impediments to implementation of the project have been overcome and that implementation will commence immediately upon clearance of the proposal;
(ii) where the change in technology has no other significant policy implications, the proposal may proceed on the basis of agreement between the Secretariat and the Implementing Agency, including agreement on the extent of savings to be realized, if any. The Executive Committee is to be informed at its next meeting;
(iii) where the condition in guideline (c)(ii) above is not met, the project will be submitted to the Executive Committee for consideration of the relevant issues.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/22/79/Rev.1, Decision 22/69, para. 95).
The Twenty-second Meeting of the Executive Committee decided to consider at its Twenty-third Meeting the issue of additional funding for project preparation for change of technology in approved projects.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/22/79/Rev.1, Decision 22/70, para. 96).
The Thirty-second Meeting of the Executive Committee decided:
(a) that, in future cases where the Secretariat and the Implementing Agencies were in agreement concerning project proposals for a change in technology after project approval, the proposal could proceed on the basis of such an agreement;
(b) that the Executive Committee was to be informed of such an agreement, including any financial implications involved, at its next meeting.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/32/44, Decision 32/25, para. 37).
The Thirty-third Meeting of the Executive Committee decided to request that, in accordance with the relevant guidelines, the funding received be partly or fully returned to the Multilateral Fund in cases where technology was changed without informing the Secretariat and without approval by the Executive Committee.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/33/32, Decision 33/2, para. 18(f)).