6.6.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 14327 COMMISSION DECISION of 5 June 2007 determining the quantities of methyl bromide permitted to be used for critical uses in the Community from 1 January to 31 December 2007 under Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (notified under document number C(2007) 2295) (Only the Dutch, French, Italian, Polish and Spanish texts are authentic) (2007/386EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (!) and in particular Article 3(2)(ii) thereof, G) The Commission received 40 proposals for critical uses of methyl bromide from six Member States including France (70 900 kg), Italy (640 000 kg), Poland (27 900 kg), Spain (322 840 kg), The Netherlands (120 kg) and the United Kingdom (10 049 kg). A total of 1 071 809 kg was requested. The Commission applied the criteria contained within Decision IX/6 and Article 3(2)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 in order to determine the amount of methyl Whereas: bromide that is eligible to be licensed for critical uses in 2007. The Commission in consultation with Member States found that adequate alternatives were available in the C it d had b lent i (1) Articles 3(2)()(d) and 4(2)()(d) of Regulation (EC) No ¢ Lommunily and pac becolie mote prevaient i 2037/2000 prohibit the production, import and placing on the market of methyl bromide for all uses after 31 December 2004 except, among others (3, for critical uses in accordance with Article 3(2)(ii) and the criteria set out in Decision IX[6 of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, together with any other relevant criteria agreed by the Parties. Exemptions for critical uses are intended to be limited derogations to allow a short period of time for the adoption of alternatives. Decision IX/6 states that methyl bromide should qualify as ‘critical’ only if the applicant determines that the lack of availability of methyl bromide for that specific use would result in a significant market disruption; and that there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes available to the user that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health and are suitable to the crops and circumstances of the nomination. Furthermore, the production and consumption, if any, of methyl bromide for critical uses should be permitted only if all technically and economically feasible steps have been taken to minimise the critical use and any associated emission of methyl bromide. An applicant should also demon- strate that an appropriate effort is being made to evaluate, commercialise and secure national regulatory approval of alternatives and substitutes; and that research programmes are in place to develop and deploy alternatives and substitutes. (') OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council many Parties to the Montreal Protocol in the period since the critical use proposals were compiled by Member States. As a result, the Commission determined that 521 836 kg of methyl bromide can be used in 2007 to satisfy critical uses in each of the Member States that had requested the use of methyl bromide. This amount equates to 2,7% of 1991 consumption of methyl bromide in the European Community and indicates that more than 97,3% of the methyl bromide has been replaced by alternatives. The critical-use categories are similar to those defined in Table A of Decision XVII/13 at the Eighteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (3). Article 3(2)(ii) requires the Commission to also determine which users may take advantage of the critical use exemption. As Article 17(2) requires Member States to define the minimum qualification requirements for personnel involved in the application of methyl bromide and, as fumigation is the only use, the Commission determined that methyl bromide fumigators are the only users proposed by the Member State and authorised by the Commission to use methyl bromide for critical uses. Fumigators are qualified to apply it safely; Member States have put in place procedures to identify fumigators within their territory that are permitted to use methyl bromide for critical uses. (*) UNEP/OzL.Pro.18/10: Report of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (O] L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1). (%) Other uses are for quarantine and pre-shipment, as feedstock and for laboratory and analytical uses. Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, held 30 October-3 November 2006 in New Delhi. www.unep.org/ozone/Meeting_Documents/mop/index.asp