This week 189 member governments of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone layer would decide on how best to manage the phase-out of methyl bromide, an effective fumigant and pesticide for strawberries, flowers and other high-value crops that also damages the earth's protective ozone shield.
According to sources, they would also consider the level of funding that should be made available during the three-year period 2006-2008 to enable developing countries to continue complying with their numerous reduction obligations under the Protocol.
After successfully eliminating virtually all uses of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the greatest cause of ozone destruction, a number of developed countries had struggled to phase out methyl bromide by the agreed January 1, 2005 deadline.
They said that many farmers have eliminated or greatly reduced the use of methyl bromide by switching to other fumigants and to non-chemical measures, such as grafted plants and barrier films.
However, 16 countries were requesting "critical use exemptions" in 2006 for certain crops in order to buy more time for adopting more technically or economically feasible alternatives.
The countries that have requested exemptions for 2006 were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US.
According to them, in addition the Working Group would consider a report by the Protocol's Assessment Panel that recommends nearly $420 million funding to support developing countries' efforts to phase-out all of their ozone-depleting substances.
This funding would constitute the fifth replenishment of the Montreal Protocol's innovative Multilateral Fund.
Under the Protocol, developed countries were to reduce controlled uses of methyl bromide completely by 2005 (compared to 1991 levels); most have already achieved the Protocol's interim reduction requirements of 25 percent by 1999, 50 percent by 2001 and 70 percent by 2003.
For developing countries the schedule started with a 2002 freeze (at average 1995-98 levels) and continues with reductions of 20 percent by 2005 and 100 percent by 2015.
Developed countries have reduced the controlled production of methyl bromide from 66,000 tonnes in 1991 to less than 24,850 tonnes in 2003. Developing country production fell from a peak of over 2,380 tonnes in 1998 to some 960 tonnes in 2003.
Destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer increases the levels of UV-B radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Risks include more melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, more eye cataracts, weakened immune systems, reduced plant yields, damage to ocean eco-systems and reduced fishing yields, and adverse effects on animals.
The ozone layer is expected to stabilise and return to health in 50 years or so, but only if the Montreal Protocol's phase-out schedules are fully respected.