Pesticides

Methyl bromide had been used in agriculture since the 1930s, mainly as a fumigant to control pests in the soil before planting seeds, to protect stored crops, and to treat commodities being shipped abroad. World scientists participating in the United Nations Environment Programme concluded that emissions from methyl bromide use contribute significantly to ozone depletion and should be controlled. In response, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations that freeze the production and importation of methyl bromide at 1991 levels until 2002, at which time the pesticide can no longer be produced into the United States for domestic use. However, a phaseout of the substance could harm U.S. agriculture and trade unless adequate--that is, environmentally acceptable, effective, and economical- -alternatives are found before the ban takes effect in five years. More progress in identifying alternative is being made for some uses of methyl bromide than for others. If adequate alternatives are not ready by the time the ban takes effect, exemptions from the ban may be needed for some domestic uses until alternatives can be developed. EPA now lacks the authority, however, to grant exemptions for the continued production and/or importation of methyl bromide for domestic uses.

GAO found that: (1) world scientists participating in the United Nation's Environment Programme believe that emissions of methyl bromide contribute significantly to ozone depletion; (2) although several chemical and nonchemical pest-control alternatives to methyl bromide are available, none are as economical and effective as methyl bromide; (3) if other countries continue to use methyl bromide after it is phased out in the United States, they will have an unfair advantage in international markets for the various agricultural commodities produced with the substance; and (4) the Clean Air Act does not authorize EPA to grant exemptions on producing and importing methyl bromide except for use in medical devices and for export to developing countries that have signed the Montreal Protocol.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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