Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 6 • 12th April 2004

Montreal Protocol: Exemptions Granted for Methyl Bromide

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The US, several EU member states and other developed country Parties were granted exemptions for the use of methyl bromide — an ozone damaging substance — at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, held from 24-26 March in Montreal, Canada. Under the Protocol more than 180 signatory states are obligated to phase out the use of nearly 100 ozone depleting chemicals. Developed countries were to phase out methyl bromide, a fumigant that kills soil and food pests, by 1 January 2005. However, at the Extraordinary Meeting eleven states received exemptions totalling 13,438 tonnes for 2005, of which the US was granted almost 9,000 tonnes.

Commenting on the high demand for exemptions Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP said “[this] shows that governments and the private sector will have to work much harder to speed up the development and spread of ozone friendly replacements”. In order to avoid a watering down of the agreement and to seek a clearer definition of the economic factors used for justifying an exemption Parties launched a process for detailed procedures and reporting requirement for requesting and granting future exemptions. However, US farmers pointed out that the fact that developing countries are scheduled to phase out methyl bromide use only by 2015 might lead to unfair competition. Rodger Wasson, president of the California Strawberry Commission, said, “the 50-acre grower in California may be competing with a multinational corporation based in China who gets to use the product 10 years longer”. With such fears temporarily placated, others arose from the environmental standpoint. European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström stressed that “the scientific consensus is that only full compliance with the Montreal Protocol will allow the ozone layer to regain its full protective power”. Under the Protocol, developed countries have committed to taking the lead in phasing out ozone depleting substances. Many environmental groups suggested that effective alternatives to methyl bromide that do not harm the ozone layer exist and can be deployed without great cost.

“13 Countries To Seek Methyl Bromide Exemption,” UN WIRE, 24 March 2004; “Eleven Countries Win UN Exemption From Ban On Ozone-depleting Pesticide,” TERRA DAILY, 27 March 2004; “Top EU Environment Official Pushes Adherence To Ozone Pact,” UN WIRE, 26 March 2004; “Exemptions from Global Methyl Bromide Ban Under Consideration,” ENS, 23 March 2004.