Decision XXXV/15: Critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide for 2024

Noting with appreciation the work of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee and the September 2023 report of the Panel,[1]

Acknowledging that the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, and specifically its Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee, produces reports that are science-based, independent and robust, and that all parties should strive to respect the results of that work,

Recognizing the significant reductions in critical-use nominations for methyl bromide by many parties,

Recalling paragraph 10 of decision XVII/9 on critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide,

Recalling that parties nominating critical-use exemptions are requested to report data on stocks of methyl bromide using the accounting framework agreed on by the Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol,

Recognizing that parties operating under critical-use exemptions should, in licensing, permitting or authorizing the production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses, take into account the extent to which methyl bromide is available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled methyl bromide,

Recalling decision Ex.I/4 on conditions for granting and reporting critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide, by which parties with critical-use exemptions were requested to submit annual accounting frameworks and national management strategies,

Recalling also decision IX/6, by which parties to the Montreal Protocol decided that the production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses was to be permitted only if methyl bromide was not available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled methyl bromide,

Recalling further decision XVI/4 on the working procedures of the Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee, as set out in annex I to the report of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties, related to the evaluation of nominations for critical uses of methyl bromide,

Noting that the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel has identified successful chemical and non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide and that the use of such alternatives in combination provides excellent results,

Noting also that the Government of Canada takes into account, to the extent feasible, available stocks of methyl bromide in licensing, permitting or authorizing the production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses, is fully committed to a further reduction of the amount to be nominated for 2025, and does not intend to submit a nomination for 2026,

Recognizing that some parties have recently stopped requesting critical-use exemptions and that the efforts to develop alternatives and substitutes by parties that continue to apply for exemptions are designed to achieve the same outcome,

1. To permit Canada, for the agreed critical-use category for 2024 specified in table A of the annex to the present decision, and subject to the conditions specified in the present decision and in decision Ex.I/4, to the extent that those conditions are applicable, the levels of production and consumption for 2024 specified in table B of the annex to the present decision, which are necessary to satisfy the identified critical use;
2. That Canada shall endeavour to license, permit, authorize or allocate quantities of methyl bromide for the critical use specified in table A of the annex to the present decision;
3. That Canada shall renew its commitment to ensuring that the criteria in paragraph 1 of decision IX/6, in particular the criterion laid down in paragraph 1 (b) (ii) of decision IX/6, are applied in licensing, permitting or authorizing critical uses of methyl bromide, and to request Canada to report on the implementation of the present provision to the Secretariat by 1 February for the years to which the present decision applies;
4. That parties submitting future requests for critical-use nominations for methyl bromide shall also comply with paragraph 1 (b) (iii) of decision IX/6, and that parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol shall demonstrate that research programmes are in place to develop and deploy alternatives to and substitutes for methyl bromide.

 Annex to decision XXXV/15

Table A
Agreed critical-use categories for 2024

  ^a Minus available stocks.

Table B
Permitted levels of production and consumption for 2024

  ^a Minus available stocks.

[1] Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, Sept. 2023, vol. 5: Evaluation of 2023 critical-use nominations for methyl bromide and related issues – Final report.