Other Regulatory Information

Methyl bromide is a powerful ozone-depleting substance. At theinternational level, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances thatDeplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) established a freeze in the level ofmethyl bromide production and consumption for industrialized countries at the1992 Meeting in Copenhagen. As a result, in the U.S., the production andimport of methyl bromide decreased gradually starting in 1999 and thephaseout took effect on January 1, 2005, except for allowable exemptionprograms for critical uses and quarantine and preshipment uses.

Aggregate Methyl Bromide Inventory Data

Graph showing decline in methyl bromide inventory held by U.S. companies during transition to alternatives: 1991 total was 25,528 Metric Tons (MT) (baseline), 2003 total was 16,422 MT (65% of baseline), 2004 total was 12,994 MT (51% of baseline), 2005 total was 9,974 MT (39% of baseline), 2006 total was 7,671 MT (30% of baseline), and 2007 total was 6,458 MT (25% of baseline)

Aggregate methyl bromide inventory data for the 2007 calendar yearcontinues to show a steady decline. The existence of the inventory provides asafety net for the transition to ozone-safe alternatives, and this datacontinues to demonstrate that the inventory held by U.S. companies is beingmanaged appropriately. For more information, please see the Fact Sheet.

U.S. National Management Strategy

U.S. National Management Strategy(PDF) (56 pp, 319K). The Department of State submitted a NationalManagement Strategy to the Ozone Secretariat on December 1, 2005, for eachsector that has requested a critical use exemption.

Methyl Bromide Revised Phaseout Schedule

Direct Final Rule (November 28, 2000; 65 FR 70795): HTML Format
Proposed Rule (November 28, 2000; 65 FR 70825): HTML Format
Final Rule (December 20, 1994; 59 FR 65478): HTML Format
Proposed Rule (October 14, 1994; 59 FR 52126): HTML Format

Methyl Bromide & HBFC Production & Consumption Allowances

These rules established the original baseline production and consumptionallowances for the phaseout of methyl bromide.

Final Rule (December 30, 1993; 58 FR 69235): HTML Format
Proposed Rule (November 9, 1993; 58 FR 59630): HTML Format not available

Incorporation of Montreal Protocol Adjustments

These rules revised the accelerated phaseout of the regulations thatgovern the production, import, transformation, and destruction ofozone-depleting substances, including methyl bromide.

25% Final Rule (June 1, 1999; 64 FR 29240): HTML Format
25% Proposed Rule (February 25, 1999; 64 FR 9290): HTML Format

Continued Production of Methyl Bromide for Export to Developing Countries

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer providesa different phaseout schedule for developing countries (countries thatoperate under Article V of the Protocol) that culminates in a completephaseout starting on January 1, 2015. Currently, developing countries are ona gradual phase-down schedule. However, until the phaseout for developingcountries begins, existing production facilities in industrialized countriescan supply methyl bromide to developing countries, thereby decreasingincentives for construction of new plants in those countries. The Protocolallows industrialized countries to produce limited, additional methyl bromideexplicitly for export to developing countries during and after the phaseoutin the industrialized countries.

Proposed Rule Adjusting Allowances for Class I Substances for Export to Article 5 Countries (August 23, 2006; 71 FR 49395): HTML Format; PDF Format (5pp, 124K); Fact Sheet
Proposed Rule Adjusting Allowances for Class I Substances for Export to Article 5 Countries (September 21, 2005; 70 FR 55480): HTML Format; PDF Format (11pp, 145K)
Final Rule Adjusting Allowances for Class I Substances for Export to Article 5 Countries (December 29, 2005; 70 FR 77042): HTML Format; PDF Format (7pp, 142K); Fact Sheet on Final Rule

These actions established production allowances for export to developingcountries before January 1, 2005.

Direct Final Rule (April 29, 2002; 67 FR 21129): HTML Format; PDF Format (6pp; 110K)
Concurrent Proposed Rule (April 29, 2002; 67 FR 21135): HTML Format