WRITTEN QUESTION E-0060/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (29 January 1998)

Subject: The use of methyl bromide in agriculture

Can the Commission clarify the status of the use of methyl bromide as an agricultural pesticide and state whether the Montreal Protocol (October 1997) was adopted by Member States and/or the European Community as a whole?

What is presently proposed as the date for phasing out methyl bromide? Are there exemptions to that phasing out and, if so, do these exist only where there are no substitutes available?

What are the present usage rates of methyl bromide within Member States as a whole and individually?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (24 March 1998)

Methyl bromide is used as a broad spectrum agricultural pesticide, mainly for the fumigation of soil before planting. It is used both in greenhouses and open fields, particularly in intensive crop systems. However, as methyl bromide is also an ozone-depleting substance, it has been listed in the Montreal Protocol for phase-out.

Both the Community and individual Member States are parties to the Montreal Protocol. The original 1987 Protocol and the London amendment (1990) have been ratified by all Member States and the Community. The Copenhagen amendment (1992) has been ratified by the Community and all Member States except Belgium and Portugal. The Montreal amendment, agreed in September 1997, has not yet been ratified by the Community or the Member States. A proposal for the revision of Regulation (EC) No 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer ((OJ L 333, 22.12.1994. )) to implement changes to the Protocol agreed in Vienna (1995) and Montreal (1997) is currently in the process of adoption by the Commission.

Under the Montreal Protocol, developed countries should phase out methyl bromide by 1 January 2005, with an exemption for 'critical uses'. Developing countries will phase out by 2015. Decision IX/6 of the parties to the Protocol says that a use of methyl bromide should qualify as critical only where 'the nominating party determines that:

(i) the specific use is critical because the lack of availability of methyl bromide for that use would result in significant market disruption; and

(ii) there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes available to the user that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health and are suitable to the crops and circumstances of the nomination'.

In addition, critical use of methyl bromide would only be permitted where all technically and economically feasible steps have been taken to minimise emissions and where it is demonstrated that an appropriate effort is being made to evaluate, commercialise and secure regulatory approval for alternatives.

The quantity of methyl bromide which may be placed on the European market is limited under Regulation (EC) No 3093/94. In 1998, following the 25% cut specified in the Regulation, the maximum quantity to be placed on the market is 7412 ozone depleting potential (odp) tonnes, equivalent to 12 353 metric tonnes. Usage in each Member State is not reported to the Commission. A study for the Commission completed in May 1997 reported the following estimated figures for methyl bromide used as a soil fumigant in 1993:

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In the Community as a whole, some 90% of the methyl bromide is used for soil fumigation, 4% for commodity fumigation, 3% for structural fumigation and 3% as a feedstock in the manufacture of other products and chemicals.