Twelve years after being signed, the MontrealProtocol is viewed as a success. Methyl bromide, which has anozone-depleting potential of 0.6 compared to CFCs, was added to thelist of controlled substances in 1992. The Copenhagen Amendmentrequires the phasing out of methyl bromide in developed countriesby 2005 and in developing countries by 2015.

Methyl bromide is still used throughout thedeveloping world as a fumigant to control pests in soils,structures and commodities. However, alternatives for 90 % ofmethyl bromide applications have been found . often as part ofintegrated pest management, but few have yet been implemented.

GTZ, the German Agency for TechnicalCo-operation, is advising developing countries on possiblesubstitutes for methyl bromide. GTZ emphasises non-chemicalalternatives such as crop rotation and biocontrol. GTZ is alsohelping with the disposal of old stocks of methyl bromide; forexample, it recently helped the Sudanese government dispose of overeight tonnes of methyl bromide.
Source : UNEP