2 Use of Methyl Bromide in Agriculture in Article 5 Countries

MB is a broad-spectrum fumigant used against insects, nematodes, weeds, pathogens and rodents. It is applied primarily to treat soil and durable products, but also to fumigate perishable perishables perishablesgoods and buildings. Because of its fast action, it plays a particularly key role in plant quarantine. In Article 5 (A5) countries MB is used, inter alia, in:

• soil fumigation against soil -borne pests including diseases, nematodes and weeds
• quarantine fumigation of durable commodities such as timber, tea and cocoa beans
• fumigation of perishables (fruit, vegetables and cut flowers ) in order to meet quarantine, phytosanitary and commercial standards and the requirements of importing countries
• disinfestation of local cereal stocks in long-term storage
• specific quarantine treatment against pests such as the Khapra beetle or the Larger grain borer
• disinfestation of grain imported as food aid
• disinfestation of transport vehicles including ships and aircraft

According to the MBTOC's 1994 report, developing countries (A5 countries as determined by the MP) use about 18 % of the global production of MB for agri-cultural purposes. Total consumption of the countries that responded to the MBTOC survey in 1992 amounted to 14 510 t. In Africa, about 22 % (3 425 t) of this quantity is applied, in Asia about 45 % (6 526 t) and in South and Central America including the Caribbean about 31 % (4 559 t). A tiny quantity of about 1% is used in European A5 countries (180 t).

The main use is soil fumigation, which accounted for about 70 % of the total, and fumigation of durables (about 20 %). Regional use patterns differ somewhat from this picture: in Latin America soil treatment is the primary use of MB, in South-East Asia use for grain storage or export predominates (this indicates a high potential for phase-out in the short term!) and in Africa soil and grain fumigation are common (Schafer, 1997).

Between 1990 and 1994, MB use almost doubled in developing countries (TEAP, Vol. I, 1997). One of the reasons is that MB is being aggressively marketed and offered at discount prices to some countries so that its use is currently being extended to new users and new areas (Miller, 1996).

In A5 countries, no MB is used for the production of staple foodstuffsfoodstuff foodstuff (i.e. for soil fumigation) and very little for food which is consumed inside the country. Almost all the MB consumed is used to grow and treat cash crops for export such as tobacco, cut flowers, strawberries, certain fruits and vegetables. Very often, pre-shipment treatment is legally stipulated by importing countries irrespective of whether or not any pest attack has occurred.

The 1992 survey indicates that 3 245 t were applied in African countries, the priority region of German development policy and GTZ programmes. This corresponds to about 3 % of the global quantity, the smallest proportion worldwide. In the least-developed African countries, MB is mainly used on durable commodities in order to protect local stocks of food grain or to disinfect cereals which are imported or to be exported. Between 1990 and 1994, MB use more than doubled in Africa (TEAP, Vol. I, 1997).

The use of MB to produce cash crops in several African countries may differ substantially from the numbers officially reported to the UNEP Ozone Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya. Table 1 shows the situation in seven countries for which data are available. The consumption figures from different sources show a broad variation. In other countries not included in this table and on other continents the situation may be comparable.

In most North African countries, MB consumption is steadily increasing since the freeze in South European countries. Because of lower labour, social and employment infrastructure costs and other reasons the Maghreb countries have a comparative advantage for vegetable production. As a consequence, MB demand, sales and application have been increasing together with the expansion of the surfaces used for the production of export vegetables. This tendency is clearly depicted in the statistics from the Ozone Secretariat in Nairobi (Table 2 ). A similar development may occur in other regions too.

Table 1: Methyl Bromide Consumption in Selected African Countries in ODP-weighted t/year (According to Two Different Sources)

Country	Consump-tion in 1991	Consump-tion in 1993	Average consumption from 1991 to 1993	Main uses
Kenya	231	328	150	82 t for soil fumigation in flower and strawberry production 45 t for fumigation of durables 22 t for fumigation of flowers for export
Malawi	79.8	97.7	124	74 t for soil fumigation in tobacco production 50 t for grain fumigation
Mozambique	0.3	-	9	Fumigation of grain, ships ship shipand stores
South Africa	885.5	677.6	421	360 t for soil fumigation for, inter alia, apples, flowers, seedbeds, strawberries, tobacco and vegetables
Tanzania	5	-	12	Soil fumigation (tobacco ) and cut flowers
Zambia	4.9	28.0	48 to 198	Soil fumigation (tobacco )
Zimbabwe	455.0	420.0	362	308 t for soil fumigation (tobacco and flowers ) 50 t for fumigation of stored cereals and exported tobacco

Sources:

¹ Statistics of the UNEP Ozone Secretariat in Nairobi

² "Under African Skies", Report of the Pesticide Action Network, North America (1995)

Data have been transferred into ODP-weighted tonnes (i.e. multiplied by 0.6)

Table 2: Recent Increases in Methyl Bromide Consumption in North African Countries (in ODP-weighted t/year)

	1991	1993	1994	1995
Egypt	56.0	56.0	105.0	315.0
Morocco		263.2	618.8	908.6
Tunisia		3.3	6.7	14.0

Tables 1 and 2 highlight the fact that, in spite of the low quantities used in Africa compared to global consumption rates, measures to substitute MB are urgently needed in order to counteract tendencies towards increases. The shift of the production of vegetables using MB from the Northern to the Southern shores of the Mediterranean is a development that counteracts the efforts of the EC to decrease the quantities of MB released into the stratosphere.