Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 8 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 February 2005. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Monday, 21 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the use of methyl bromide in the strawberry growing sector, with particular reference to its ozone-depleting properties.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of methyl bromide in the strawberry growing sector, with particular reference to its ozone-depleting properties. [216351] Alun Michael: Methyl bromide is an ozone depleting substance (ODS) that is now banned in developed countries under the Montreal Protocol and EC Regulation 2037/2000. The ozone depleting potential (ODP) of methyl bromide is 0.6, which is a representation of its ability to deplete ozone in comparison to a reference ODS, chlorofluorocarbon 11 (CFC 11). Following the ban on production, methyl bromide is only permitted to be produced for agreed critical uses, quarantine and pre-shipment and emergency purposes. The Government's policy on future use of methyl bromide is that its use should not be phased back in by excessive critical uses. The Montreal Protocol makes provision for critical use exemptions where there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives to methyl bromide. The UK applied to the Parties to the Montreal Protocol for a critical use exemption for use on strawberries, to allow additional limited time to bring alternatives on line. Following technical scrutiny by the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC) of the Montreal Protocol and the European Commission, the Commission have licensed some 30 tonnes of methyl bromide for critical uses for strawberries for 2005.

Secondary information