Noting with appreciation the work of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee,
Noting the large numbers of sectors which have moved effectively to alternatives and that technically and economically feasible alternatives have been identified for virtually all non-quarantine and pre-shipment applications of methyl bromide,
Recognizing the significant reductions in critical-use nominations for methyl bromide by many parties,
Recalling paragraph 10 of decision XVII/9 on critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide for 2006 and 2007,
Recalling also that parties nominating critical-use exemptions are requested to report data on stocks of methyl bromide using the accounting framework agreed to by the Sixteenth Meeting of the Parties,
Recognizing that the production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses should be permitted only if methyl bromide is not available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled methyl bromide,
Recognizing also that parties operating under critical-use exemptions should take into account the extent to which methyl bromide is available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled methyl bromide in licensing, permitting or authorizing the production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses,
Recalling decision Ex.I/4, by which parties with critical-use exemptions were requested to submit annual accounting frameworks and national management strategies,
Noting the progress made under the research programme of the Australian strawberry runner industry and that Australia is planning to move to alternatives provided that trials conducted in 2018, 2019 and 2020 are successful and the registration of the alternatives is completed,
Noting also the commitment by the Government of Australia to approving only the amount of methyl bromide required should an alternative be available and registered for use in 2021,
Noting further that Canada takes into account, to the extent feasible, available stocks of methyl bromide in licensing, permitting or authorizing the production and consumption of methyl bromide for critical uses,
Noting the progress made under the Canadian research programme and that Canada is committed to continuing its research programme in 2020,
Noting also that the research programme of Argentina is continuing to pursue its aim of developing alternatives to methyl bromide,
Noting further that the Government of South Africa is committed to phasing-in an already registered alternative for structures and mills,
Recognizing that some parties have recently stopped requesting critical-use exemptions and that the efforts to develop alternatives and substitutes by parties that continue to apply for exemptions are designed to achieve the same outcome,

1. To permit, for each party and for the agreed critical-use categories for 2020 and 2021 set forth in table A of the annex to the present decision, subject to the conditions set forth in the present decision and in decision Ex.I/4, to the extent that those conditions are applicable, the levels of production and consumption for 2020 and 2021 set forth in table B of the annex to the present decision, which are necessary to satisfy critical uses, on the understanding that additional production and consumption and categories of use may be approved by the Meeting of the Parties in accordance with decision IX/6 on critical-use exemptions for methyl bromide;
2. That parties shall endeavour to license, permit, authorize or allocate quantities of methyl bromide for critical uses as listed in table A of the annex to the present decision;
3. That each party that has an agreed critical-use exemption shall renew its commitment to ensuring that the criteria in paragraph 1 of decision IX/6, in particular the criterion laid down in paragraph 1 (b) (ii) of decision IX/6, are applied in licensing, permitting or authorizing critical uses of methyl bromide, and to request that each party report on the implementation of the present provision to the Secretariat by 1 February for the years to which the present decision applies;
4. That parties submitting future requests for critical-use nominations for methyl bromide shall also comply with the provisions of paragraph 1 (b) (iii) of decision IX/6, and that parties not operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol shall demonstrate that research programmes are in place to develop and deploy alternatives to and substitutes for methyl bromide;
5. To call upon parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol requesting critical‑use exemptions to submit their national management strategies in accordance with paragraph 3 of decision Ex.I/4.

Annex to decision XXXI/4

Table A
Agreed critical-use categories

^a Tonnes = metric tons.

Table B
Permitted levels of production and consumption

^a Tonnes = metric tons.