Industry Dilutes EC Proposal to Cut Methyl Bromide Use
July 14, 1993
BUSINESS AS USUAL
The European Community (EC) recently released a draft
regulation on ozone depleting substances which would cut the
production and supply of methyl bromide by 25% in 1996,
following a freeze in 1995 (to 1991 levels).* The EC is the
world's second-largest user of methyl bromide after the
USA,using approximately 14,000 tonnes a year - more than 20%
of the global total.
The EC proposed 25% cut means business as usual, because
this level of cut can be achieved by emissions from current
fumigation equipment. This level represents a very short-
sighted approach that will encourage investment in emission-
limiting research and equipment. Methyl Bromide users will
inevitably face a subsequent phase of expenditure on real
alternatives when the phase-out occurs.
USER FIGHT CUTS
A version of the EC draft regulation leaked in March of this
year proposed a cut of 50%. The June proposal clearly shows
that the European Commission (the civil service which drafts
EC legislation) gave into political pressure to limit this
to a 25% cut, between March and June. Atochem, the French
chemical company and the major EC producer of methyl
bromide, led the lobbying. The French government, which
owns half of Atochem, also appears to have lobbied for a
weakened proposal. Some newspapers also reported that
Jacques Delors, the French President of the EC, supported
the producer. If true, this is very irregular because the
EC President is supposed to remain completely neutral on
national issues.
In addition to Atochem, licensed soil fumigation contractors
have helped to dilute the proposal. On the day that the
Commission agreed to the proposal, the Association of
European Soil Fumigators (the fumigators' lobby group)
issued a press release criticizing any action beyond the
1995 production freeze (to 1991 levels) agreed by the
Montreal Protocol.
Ministries of agriculture and farmers organizations in most
EC countries form the third major group opposing progressive
action on methyl bromide. Agricultural policies in the EC
compel many farmers to use pesticides like methyl bromide in
order to make a living.
NO ALTERNATIVES?
Those opposing a phase-out in the EC claim that there are no
viable alternatives, but alternatives do exist for many if
not all uses. For example, farmers in Germany, the
Netherlands and Switzerland use alternatives such as crop
rotation and steam sterilization rather than methyl bromide.
Replacements may be more difficult to introduce in southern
EC countries (Italy, Spain and France are the main EC users
- see table), but many Italian flower producers already use
steam. About 80% of methyl bromide is used to sterilize
soil before planting crops such as tomatoes, strawberries
and flowers.
Some EC countries have already taken steps to eliminate
methyl bromide use. Germany and the Netherlands eliminated
most agricultural uses by 1991 due to concerns about water
contamination, food residues and occupational health rather
than concerns about the ozone layer. The Italian parliament
is currently debating a proposal to phase out methyl bromide
in 1996, and Denmark has issued regulations to eliminate all
uses by 1998. If the EC starts planning now, a coordinated
research program could support an orderly phase-out of
remaining methyl bromide uses by the year 2000, if not
sooner.
NEW COALITION
On a positive note, a new coalition is being formed in
Europe to press for phase-out of methyl bromide by the year
2000, and sooner wherever possible. This campaign,
coordinated by the Sustainable Agriculture, Food and
Environment Alliance (SAFE) is calling for the EC to set
phase-out dates for individual uses of methyl bromide, based
on use priorities and potential alternatives. It also calls
for a major shift in agriculture policies and funding so
that farmers are no longer obliged to use damaging chemicals
like methyl bromide. And it demands support and training
for farmers to adopt environmentally sound alternatives,
such as crop rotations, as well as support for 'Third World'
countries to develop alternatives. The coalition involves
environmentalists, farmers, consumers and development
organizations.
TABLE 1: APPROXIMATE USE IN EC COUNTRIES
Reliable data on the use of methyl bromide are not yet
available, and estimates for some countries differ widely.
This table gives very approximate figures, which under-
estimate use in some countries.
Country Approximate use (per year)
tonnes percentage
Benelux 350 3%
Denmark 36 0.2%
France 1,500 11%
Germany 50 0.4%
Greece 800 6%
Ireland 40 0.3%
Italy 6,500 46%
Netherlands 10 0.1%
Portugal 50 0.4%
Spain 3,000 21%
UK 600 4%
Total EC 14,000 100%
(Note: Atochem makes about one-third of the methyl bromide
used in the EC. The rest is imported from Dead Sea Bromine
in Israel and Ethyl Corporation and Great Lakes Chemical in
the USA.)
*Draft regulation COM(93)202
For more information and source contact: Melanie Miller,
SAFE Alliance, 5 Worship Street, London EC2A 2BH, UK. Tel:+4471 628 9507.
Fax:+4471 628 7902
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