China banned the production and import of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halon, two ozone depleting substances (ODS) from Sunday, honoring its promise to phase out the substances two and a half years ahead of schedule.

As the biggest producer and consumer of CFCs and halon among developing nations, China had disposed of about 100,000 tons of CFCs and about 80,000 tons of halon since it signed up to the Montreal Protocol in 1991, said Zhang Lijun, deputy director of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), on Sunday.

At the end of June, eight industries related to the use and production of CFCs and halon had banned the two substances.

The last six Chinese factories to produce CFCs agreed to stop production in a deal with the SEPA in Changshu, East Jiangsu Province Saturday.

"The government has made a smart decision banning CFCs and halon. It has played a leading role in protecting the environment through technological innovation and international cooperation," said Magda Lovei, manager of Sustainable Development East Asia Pacific, a World Bank subsidiary.

CFCs are used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and halon is used in fire extinguishers. The two have been identified as the main substances damaging the earth's ozone layer.

Ozone shields the planet from the harmful ultraviolet-B radiation of the sun. It also completely screens out lethal UV-C radiation.

Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,which was signed by 24 nations in 1987, developed countries agreed to phase out the chemicals by January 1, 2005, while developing countries have a January 1, 2015, deadline.

China signed the protocol in 1991 and pledged to phase out major ODS production and consumption by 2010.