The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol. Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

The Montreal Protocol provided a set of practical, actionable tasks that were universally agreed on. The Protocol has successfully met its objectives thus far and continues to safeguard the ozone layer today. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is well on its way to recovery.

Critical use exemptions: Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties (Prague, 22 - 26 November 2004)

Source(s)
Annex to Decision XVI/2

Section IA: 2005 - agreed supplemental critical-use categories

Country Categories of permitted critical uses (metric tonnes)
Australia Almonds (1.9)
Belgium Mills (0.2), electronic equipment (0.1), woodworking premises (0.3), food premises (0.3), food storage dry structure (0.12), old buildings (1.15), empty silo (0.05), food processing premises (0.03), flour mill (9.515), artefacts and structures (0.59), churches, monuments and ships quarters (0.15), antique structures and furniture (0.319)
Canada Strawberry runners (6.84)
France Cucurbits (60), melon (7.5), seeds post harvest (0.135)
Germany Artefacts (0.25), mills and processors (45)
Greece Cut flowers (14), dried fruit (4.28), mills and processors (23)
Israel Artefacts (0.65), cut flowers, protected (303), cut flowers, open fields (77), dates post harvest (3.444), flour mills - machinery and storages (2.14), furniture imported (1.422), fruit tree nurseries (50), potato (239), strawberry runners (35), strawberry fruit (196), melon (125.65), seed production (56)
Italy Mills and processors (160), artefacts (5.225)
Japan Chestnut (2.5), cucumber (48.9), ginger field (119.4), ginger protected (22.9), melon (99.6), watermelon (57.6), peppers hot (23.2), peppers green (89.9)
Netherlands Strawberry runners (0.12)
New Zealand Strawberry fruit (42), strawberry runners (8)
Poland Strawberry runners (40), dry commodities (4.1)
Switzerland Mills and processors (8.7)
United Kingdom Mills and processors biscuits (2.525), spices (building) (3.0), spices and pappadum (0.035), woven baskets (0.77)
United States of America Dried fruit and nuts (2.413), eggplant field (3.161), peppers field (9.482), tomato field (10.746), dry commodities structures (cocoa) (61.519), dry commodities - processed foods, herbs, spices, dried milk (83.344), ornamentals (154), smokehouse ham (67), strawberry fruit (219)

Section IB: 2005 - permitted supplemental levels of production and consumption

Country (metric tonnes of methyl bromide)
Australia 1.9
Belgium* 12.824
Canada 6.84
France* 67.635
Germany* 45.25
Greece* 41.28
Israel 1074
Italy* 165.225
Japan 464
Netherlands* 0.12
New Zealand 40.5
Poland* 44.1
Switzerland 8.7
United Kingdom* 6.33

* The supplementary production and consumption of the European Community shall not exceed 382.764 metric tonnes for the purposes of the agreed supplementary critical uses.

Section IIA: 2006 agreed critical-use categories

Country Categories of permitted critical uses (metric tonnes)
Australia Almonds (2.1), cut flowers (22.35), cut flowers bulbs protected (5.25), rice consumer packs (6.15), strawberry runners (30)
Belgium Food premises (0.3)
Canada Strawberry runners (8.666), flour mills (27.8), pasta manufacturing facilities (8.4)
France Carrots (8), chestnut (2), cucurbits (60), forest nurseries (10), orchard and raspberry replant (25), orchard and raspberry nurseries (5), peppers (27.5), rice consumer packs (2), seeds post harvest (0.135), strawberry fruit (86), strawberry runners (40), cut flowers bulbs (52), eggplant (22), tomato (48.4), melon (6.0), mills and processors (35)
Israel Artefacts and libraries (0.65), cut flower open field (67), flour mills machinery and storages (1.49), fruit tree nurseries (45), strawberry fruit (196), strawberry runners (35), dates post harvest (2.755), cut flowers protected (240), melon (99.4), potato (165), seed production (28)
Italy Strawberry runners (120), strawberry fruit protected (320), tomato protected (697), eggplant protected (156), cut flowers bulbs protected (187), melon protected (131), pepper protected (130), artefacts (5.225)
Japan Chestnuts (6.5), cucumber (87.6), ginger field (119.4), ginger protected (22.9), melon (171.6), watermelon (60.9), peppers green (98.4), peppers hot (13.9)
New Zealand Strawberry fruit (34), strawberry runners (8)
Poland Strawberry runners (40), dry commodities (3.56)
Spain Peppers protected (155), strawberry fruit protected (499.29), strawberry runners (230), cut flowers protected (42), cut flowers protected and open field (15)
Switzerland Mills and processors (7.0)
United Kingdom Ornamental tree nurseries (6), raspberry nurseries (4.4), strawberry fruit (54.5)
United States of America Cucurbits - field (747.839), dried fruit and nuts (80.649), forest nursery seedlings (157.694), nursery stock - fruit trees, raspberries, roses (64.528), strawberry runners (56.291), turfgrass (131.6), dry commodities cocoa beans (46.139), dry commodities/structures (56.253), eggplant field (81.253), mills and processors (394.843), peppers field (806.877), strawberry fruit field (1523.180), tomato field (2222.934), orchard replant (527.6)

Section IIB: 2006 - permitted levels of production and consumption

Country (metric tonnes of methyl bromide)
Australia 65.85
Belgium* 0.3
Canada 44.866
France* 429.035
Israel 880.295
Italy* 1746.225
Japan 581.2
New Zealand 40.5
Poland* 43.56
Spain* 941.29
Switzerland 7
United Kingdom * 64.9
United States of America 6897.68

* The production and consumption of the European Community shall not exceed 3,225.310 metric tonnes for the purposes of the agreed critical uses.

Section III - 2006 Approved critical-use nominations under paragraph 5

Party 2006 Approved critical-use nominations under paragraph 5 (metric tonnes)
Australia Cut flowers - bulbs - protected (1.75); rice - consumer packs (6.15); strawberry runners (7.5)
Canada Flour mills (6.974); Pasta manufacturing facilities (2.057);
France Cut flowers, bulbs - protected and open field (8.25); eggplant (5.5); melon (4.0); mills and processors (5); tomato (12.1);
Israel Cut flowers - protected (63); dates - postharvest (0.689); melon protected - in field (42.6); seed production (22)
Italy Artefacts (0.275); cut flowers - bulbs - protected (63); eggplant - protected (44); melon - protected (4); peppers - protected (30); strawberry fruit - protected (80); tomato - protected (333)
Japan Peppers - green (65.6); peppers - hot (9.3)
New Zealand Strawberry fruit (8); strawberry runners (2)
Spain Cut flowers - Cadiz/Sevilla - protected (11); cut flowers (Cataluna - carnation, protected and open field (3.6);
United Kingdom Strawberry fruit (9.1)
United States of America Dry commodities/structures (cocoa beans) (15.38); dry commodities/structures (processed foods, herbs and spices, and cheese processing facilities) (27.091); eggplant - field (20.933); mills and processors (111.139); orchard replant (300.394); peppers - field (694.497); strawberry fruit - field (397.597); tomato - field (627.552)