THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL AND THE METHYL BROMIDE PHASE OUT IN THE DATES SECTOR

The meeting of the parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol called for the Methyl Bromide (MB) phase-out in 1992. In 1997, a global phase-out schedule of this chemical was established by the MOP: Article 5 countries are required to freeze consumption and production of MB by 2002, reduce its use by 20% in 2005 and complete total phase-out by 2015. Non-Article 5 countries had to phase-out MB by 2005. However, non-article 5 countries were allowed by the parties to present Critical Use Nominations (CUNs). The exemption application process is extremely rigorous. After analysis of the CUNs, MBTOC makes recommendations on the applications to the Parties to the Protocol. The Parties then determine whether or not to approve each application. The two countries presenting CUNs every year for dates’ disinfestation are the US (California) and Israel. Consumption of MB for controlled uses has significantly decreased both in developed and developing countries. In A5 countries, phase-out has been achieved to a large extent through investment projects funded by the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol through its implementing agencies and some bilateral agreements. UNIDO designed a project proposal to address the issue of alternatives to MB for the palm date sector.
The objective of the project is to demonstrate whether alternatives to MB for the treatment of high moisture dates are technically and economically available in Algeria and Tunisia. UNEP and UNEP/ROWA have organised many activities in North Africa and in the Middle East to discuss and implement alternatives to MB for dates’ disinfestation.