L 55/28 Official Journal of the European Union 23.2.2007 II (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 16 February 2007 Determining the quantities of methyl bromide permitted to be used for critical uses in Greece from 1 June to 31 December 2006 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) 448) (Only the Greek text is authentic) (2007/129(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 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 (') 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 research programmes are in place to develop and Whereas: deploy alternatives. (1) Articles 3(2)(i)(d) and 4(2)()(d) of Regulation (EC) (3)  On 18 January 2006, the Commission received a request No 20372000 prohibit the production, import and from Greece for critical uses of methyl bromide that placing on the market of methyl bromide for all uses totalled 113 081kg for the period 1 January to after 31 December 2004 except, among others (), for 31 December 2006. 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 o ) o ) o uses are intended to be limited derogations to allow a (4) The. Commission apphe.d the criteria contalneq within short period of time for the adoption of alternatives. Decision 1X[/6 and Article 3(2)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 in order to determine the amount of () OJ L 244, 29.9.2000 p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council methy.l .bromlde t.hat is eligible to be l}ce.nsed in Greece Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006, (O] L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1). for critical uses in 2006. The Commission found that (%) Other uses are for quarantine and pre-shipment, as feedstock and for adequate alternatives were available in some circum- laboratory and analytical uses. stances and that 46 771 kg of methyl bromide could