18.5.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 130/29 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 28 April 2006 determining the quantities of methyl bromide permitted to be used for critical uses in the Community from 1 January to 31 December 2006 under Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (notified under document number C(2006) 1244) (Only the Dutch, English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish text is authentic) (2006/350/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (2)  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 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European - . . s 18 Y 8 p alternatives or substitutes available to the user that are Community, 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 Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the uses should be permitted only if all technically and European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on economically feasible steps have been taken to substances that deplete the ozone layer (1), and in particular minimise the critical use and any associated emission Article 3(2)(ii) thereof, 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 Whereas: research programmes are in place to develop and deploy alternatives and substitutes. (1)  Articles 3(2)(i)(d) and 4(2)())(d) of Regulation (EC) No 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. (3)  The Commission received 79 proposals for critical uses of methyl bromide from nine Member States including Belgium (44 070 kg), France (259 097 kg), Germany (19 450 kg), Ireland (1 250 kg), Italy (1 333 225 ko), Poland (45900 kg), Portugal (50000 kg), Spain (986 000 kg), the Netherlands (120 kg) and the United Kingdom (139 285 kg). A total of 2 878 397 kg was —— ted, ising 2690275 kg (94 %) fq - () O L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by jequesied, Comprising g (94%) for pre 0, Commission Regulation (EC) No 29/2006 (O] L 6, 11.1.2006, harvest uses and 188 14,0 kg (6%) for post-harvest p. 27). uses of methyl bromide. Germany subsequently (%) Other uses are for quarantine and pre-shipment, as feedstock and for informed the Commission that it had withdrawn all of laboratory and analytical uses. its proposals as alternatives were now available.