Phasing out critical uses of Methyl Bromide – an ozone depleting substance - in the EU

Overview

Results

The team

Related information

So what's the problem?

Methyl bromide is a highly toxic pesticide. It is injected into soil, sterilising it prior to planting crops such as tomato, pepper, strawberry and ornamental plants. It is also used post-harvest to control pests in grains, spices, dried fruits and nuts and to decontaminate storage areas and food processing facilities. However, whilst it is effective at controlling a wide range of pests including weeds, insects, fungi and rodents, a growing body of evidence has indicated that methyl bromide can cause damage both to human health and the environment.

Recent studies have linked methyl bromide to an increased risk of cancer and motor neurone disease. Also, it is a bromofluorocarbon that together with chlororfluorocarbons (CFCs), have been shown to damage the world’s vitally important ozone layer.

Production and use of these harmful substances was banned by the Montreal Protocol in 1992 and European Union member governments agreed to phase out use of methyl bromide by 2005. However some countries sought ‘critical use’ exemptions and the use of the pesticide therefore continued.

What is this project doing?

CABI was brought in to act as an independent assessor of the critical use exemption applications and considered each member state’s application. The purpose was to decide whether there were viable alternative control methods available that could replace the methyl bromide still used within individual member states.

To be an effective substitute, alternatives need to be economically viable, already proven to work and used commercially in other member states and registered for the appropriate use in the member state in question.

CABI presented member countries with evidence of effective chemical and non-chemical alternatives such as biocontrols and physical practices such as solarisation and steam treatment.

A three-step approach was taken for each member country applying for a "critical use" license. CABI staff firstly assessed the initial application and then returned it to the member country with comments and responses. The application was then revised and formed the basis for bilateral discussions concerning the level of methyl bromide use. This lead to the third and final version of the application being submitted, incorporating the agreed amounts of methyl bromide for licensing.

Results so far

Since the start of CABI’s involvement in this work, the amount of critical use of methyl bromide in the European Union has decreased from a level of 5.7 million kg in 2005 to no applications for critical use for 2009. Use of methyl bromide has therefore been successfully phased out by all EU member states in accordance with the Montreal Protocol.

In recognition of this achievement CABI was presented with a “Montreal Protocol Partners Award” in 2007 for the work is carried out to support the EU phase out of methyl bromide.

Project Manager