Summary: Methyl bromide had been used in agriculture since the 1930s, mainly as a fumigant to control pests in the soil before planting seeds, to protect stored crops, and to treat commodities being shipped abroad. World scientists participating in the United Nations Environment Programme concluded that emissions from methyl bromide use contribute significantly to ozone depletion and should be controlled. In response, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations that freeze the production and importation of methyl bromide at 1991 levels until 2002, at which time the pesticide can no longer be produced into the United States for domestic use. However, a phaseout of the substance could harm U.S. agriculture and trade unless adequate--that is, environmentally acceptable, effective, and economical- -alternatives are found before the ban takes effect in five years. More progress in identifying alternative is being made for some uses of methyl bromide than for others. If adequate alternatives are not ready by the time the ban takes effect, exemptions from the ban may be needed for some domestic uses until alternatives can be developed. EPA now lacks the authority, however, to grant exemptions for the continued production and/or importation of methyl bromide for domestic uses.
