1. QPS Uses of Methyl Bromide and Alternatives: Challenges in South Asia
Ganesan.S
Agra, 25th May 2017

2. Methyl Bromide - QPS or not QPS?
Quarantine treatment or not?
First, identify the target pest species to be controlled with MBr fumigation
Exports: Is pest officially controlled in the destination country?
Imports: Is pest officially controlled in the importing country?
If the pest in question is not under official control by Government authorities, this is not a quarantine treatment but a controlled use.
Pre-shipment or not?
Treatment with MBr must be applied 21 days or less prior to export
Exports: MBr treatment must be officially required by Government authorities in destination country
Imports: MBr treatment must be officially required by importing country authorities
“The official requirement for MBr treatment must have been in place before 7 December 1995”
Tracking methyl bromide consumption for QPS
Treatments required by companies, banks (letter of credit) or other commercial entities are not considered QPS and count as controlled MB consumption.
Source: UNEP

3. Important decisions relating to Methyl Bromide (MBr) for QPS Uses

4. Minimizing MBr uses, Decisions under Montreal Protocol
Year - Decision
Particulars
Parties to refrain from use of MBr for QPS and to use non-ozone depleting technologies whenever possible
VI/11
Parties to assess the volume and uses of MBr under QPS exemption including trend in use since 1991, the base year
X/11
Parties to use MBr recovery and recycling technology to reduce emission. To review national regulations with a view to removing the requirement to use MBr for QPS
2001- XI/13
XVI/10
Parties to submit data identifying all known uses of MBr for QPS by commodity and application
XVI/11
Parties to consider heat treatment (ISPM15) for packing materials instead of MBr
XVII/11
Recapturing and destruction of MBr from space fumigation
XX/6
Parties to put in place a national strategy to reduce MBr use for QPS
XXI/10
 Parties to apply best practice measures to reduce MBr for QPS uses
Parties to avoid multiple treatments of consignments with MBr unless a risk of an infestation with a pest has been identified
XXII/5
2012-XXIV/15
Improved reporting requirements as regards MBr consumption for QPS use

5. Decision XX/6 of 2008
Expects Parties to put in place a national strategy to reduce the use of MBr for phytosanitary measures on the following lines
Replacing MBr uses for QPS
Reducing MBr uses for QPS
Physically reducing their emission
Accurately recording the QPS uses of MBr

6. MBr reporting requirement under MP
The Beijing Amendment (1999) required Parties to report, under Article 7, annual data on the total quantity of methyl bromide produced, imported and exported for all purposes and, separately, the quantity produced or imported for use as QPS, and feedstock.
QPS production and consumption data remained confidential until 2008, when it was made publicly available through Decision XX/6
Source: UNEP

7. 2013 2014 2015 2016 Methyl Bromide Production Country
USA NR
Israel
1836
1132
China
1438
Japan
448.99
India
World
Source: Ozone Secretariat
NR : Not Reported
Values in MT
These countries also export MBr to other countries

8. Methyl Bromide Consumption
Country / Year
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Afghanistan NR
Bangladesh
Bhutan
China
932.1
India
379.24
581.14
759.53
624.51
280.94
329.54
Iran 28 26 25 11 20
Korea DPR
Korea ROK
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
Pakistan
23.97 40
67.7
102.19
Sri Lanka
25.27
33.03
37.44
33.97
31.598
21.79
Total
123.98
World Total
9823.5
Source: Ozone Secretariat
NR : Not Reported
Value: in MT

9. Important insights
Synthesis of this data with other relevant data shows that the SA countries :
_____________________________________________________________________________
Account for about 32% of world’s agricultural production
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Account for 16% of world’s MBr consumption for QPS
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This can be further reduced to <5% in next five years with increasing adoption of Phosphine
fumigation , as food grains (non-perishables) trade consume maximum MBr
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De-bottlenecking regulations required. To make them Montreal Protocol compliant
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ICC can help in this endeavor - with support from UNEP and local AIP industry

10. Alert issued by MBTOC
“……further reductions in atmospheric concentrations [of MBr]… will only occur if the remaining non-QPS uses in developing countries (A5 Parties) and the few non-A5 and A5 critical uses are phased out, and if emissions or use of MB for QPS are reduced significantly.
In 2014, the use of MB for QPS was at least three times the total used for non-QPS in non-A5 and A5 countries.
-MBTOC 2014 Assessment Report

11. Ways to reduce MBr-QPS uses
Review if QPS uses of MBr was an “official requirement” in the exporting/importing country
before 7th Dec 1995
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If it was not an “official requirement” prior to 7th Dec 1995, disapprove its use by an order
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Check the list of “notified quarantine pests”. Disapprove use of MBr for non-quarantine pest control
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Make MBr fumigation Montreal Protocol compliant of 2008, mindful of Decision XX/6 of 2008 .
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Introduce regulatory and economic incentives to adopt MBr alternatives

12. Many countries have notified to WTO replacing MBr with Phosphine
Phosphine – An alternative to MBr
“Phosphine fumigation has emerged as the leading treatment of infested commodities”.
-MBTOC 2014 Assessment Report
Many countries have notified to WTO replacing MBr with Phosphine
“Phosphine fumigation as an alternative phytosanitary treatment to methyl bromide fumigation for the control of the quarantine pest Trogoderma granarium in barley”

13. Phosphine Fumigation - SOME FACTS
Used in >160 countries and it ranks number one fumigant for >60 years
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Upon contact with atmosphere, Aluminum Phosphide releases toxic phosphine gas
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Phosphine quickly spreads and penetrates into the commodity being fumigated
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Phosphine completely kills all four stages of insects viz eggs, larva, pupa and adults
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Speed of mortality will be Adult > larva > Pupa > Eggs and linked to rate of respiration
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Phosphine is practically insoluble in water, fats and oils and therefore has no appreciable reaction on the fumigated commodities
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Phosphine disappears completely after fumigation from the treated area upon aeration
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Phosphine does not adversely affect the quality of agricultural commodity fumigated
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Unlike Methyl Bromide, phosphine is not an ozone depleting gas
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Phosphine released from aluminium phosphide is not persistent in the atmosphere. It is rapidly deactivated by photolysis (effect of sunlight)

14. Thank You
Ganesan.S