MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER UNEP 2002 REPORT OF THE METHYL BROMIDE TECHNICAL OPTIONS COMMITTEE 2002 Assessment Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2002 Report of the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee 2002 Assessment The text of this report is composed mainly in Times New Roman. Coordination: Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee Final editing, composition and layout: Jonathan Banks Reproduction: UNEP/ Ozone Secretariat, Nairobi Date: Under certain conditions, printed copies of this report are available from: United Nations Environment Programme Ozone Secretariat P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya This document is also available in portable document format from: http://www.teap.org No copyright involved. This publication may be freely copied, abstracted and cited, with acknowledgement of the source of the material. ISBN 92-807-2287-5 2002 MBTOC Assessment Report iii Disclaimer The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) Co-chairs and members, the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee Co-chairs and members, and the companies and organisations that employ them do not endorse the performance, worker safety, or environmental acceptability of any of the technical options discussed. Every industrial and agricultural operation requires consideration of environmental and worker safety and proper disposal of contaminants and waste products. Moreover, as work continues – including additional toxicity evaluation – more information on health, environmental and safety effects of alternatives and replacements will become available for use in selecting among the options discussed in this document. UNEP, the TEAP Co-chairs and members, the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee Co-chairs and members, in furnishing or distributing this information, do not make any warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or utility; nor do they assume any liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from the use or reliance upon any information, material, or procedure contained herein, including but not limited to any claims regarding health, safety, environmental effect or fate, efficacy, or performance, made by the source of information. Mention of any company, association, or product in this document is for information purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation of any such company, association, or product, either express or implied by UNEP, the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel Co-chairs or members, the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee Co-chairs or members, or the companies or organisations that employ them Acknowledgement The Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, its Methyl BromideTechnical Options Committee Co-chairs and members acknowledge with thanks the outstanding contributions from all of the individuals and organisations who provided support to Panel and Committee Co-chairs and members. The opinions expressed are those of the Panel and Committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of any sponsoring or supporting organisation. Dedication This 2002 MBTOC Assessment Report is dedicated to our good friend and colleague Dr Miguel Costilla (Investigador, Seccion Zoologia, Estacion Experimental Agro-Industrial Obispo Colombres, Argentina) who passed away suddenly in 2001. He will be remembered by his MBTOC colleagues for his friendship, hard work and dedication toward finding alternatives to methyl bromide. iv 2002 MBTOC Assessment Report UNEP 2002 REPORT OF THE METHYL BROMIDE TECHNICAL OPTIONS COMMITTEE 2002 ASSESSMENT 2002 MBTOC Assessment Report v Table of Contents Page CHAPTER 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................... 1 THE METHYL BROMIDE TECHNICAL OPTIONS COMMITTEE ............................................. 1 MANDATE AND REPORT STRUCTURE ............................................................................... 1 GENERAL FEATURES OF METHYL BROMIDE .................................................................... 2 PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION.................................................................................... 2 MB production trends ................................................................................................. 2 MB consumption trends .............................................................................................. 3 Methyl bromide emissions........................................................................................... 3 METHYL BROMIDE CONTROL MEASURES........................................................................ 3 ALTERNATIVES TO METHYL BROMIDE ............................................................................ 4 Definition of an alternative......................................................................................... 4 Availability of alternatives.......................................................................................... 4 Alternatives for soil treatments................................................................................... 5 Alternatives for treatment of durables, wood products and structures (non-QPS) .... 7 Alternatives evaluated in Article 5(1) countries – Response to Decision IX/5(1e) .... 9 Alternatives to methyl bromide for quarantine and pre-shipment applications (perishables, durable commodities and structures).................................................. 12 REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS FROM METHYL BROMIDE USE ............................................. 14 CHAPTER 2. INTRODUCTION TO THE ASSESSMENT ..................................... 17 2.1 METHYL BROMIDE............................................................................................. 17 2.2 MBTOC MANDATE ........................................................................................... 17 2.3 COMMITTEE PROCESS AND COMPOSITION.......................................................... 18 2.4 UNEP ASSESSMENTS......................................................................................... 19 2.5 DEFINITION OF AN ALTERNATIVE ...................................................................... 19 2.6 REPORT STRUCTURE .......................................................................................... 20 2.7 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 3. METHYL BROMIDE PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND LIMITATIONS ON USE ............................................................................................... 23 3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 23 3.2 USES OF METHYL BROMIDE............................................................................... 23 3.3 PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY ................................................................................. 24 3.3.1 Production for all uses.................................................................................. 24 3.3.2 Production for controlled uses...................................................................... 26 3.3.3 Regions of production................................................................................... 26 3.4 CONSUMPTION AND USAGE ............................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Reported consumption for controlled uses ................................................... 27 3.4.2 Usage by sector............................................................................................. 28 3.4.3 Quarantine and pre-shipment....................................................................... 29 3.5 APPLICATION METHODS .................................................................................... 30 3.5.1 Soil fumigation.............................................................................................. 30 3.5.2 Commodities and structures ......................................................................... 31 3.6 LIMITATIONS ON METHYL BROMIDE USE .......................................................... 32 3.6.1 Technical limitations..................................................................................... 32 3.6.2 Legislative limitations................................................................................... 32 3.6.3 Consumer/market preferences ...................................................................... 34 2002 MBTOC Assessment Report vii 3.6.3.1 Importance of market factors in phaseout............................................. 34 3.6.3.2 Users and pest control companies taking leadership in alternatives..... 34 3.6.3.3 Supermarket policies on MB in agriculture.......................................... 35 3.6.3.4 Policies of manufacturers, traders and auction houses ......................... 36 3.6.3.5 Eco-labelling and product information ................................................. 36 3.6.4 Levies and taxes on methyl bromide ............................................................. 37 3.6.4.1 Example of voluntary levy on MB........................................................ 37 3.6.4.2 Taxes on ODS chemicals...................................................................... 37 3.6.4.3 Taxes on products ................................................................................. 38 3.7 REFERENCES .....................................................................................................