Methyl bromide

Methyl bromide

From Media Indonesia

Referring to the news item published in Media Indonesia on March 16, 1996, concerning the government's ban on the use of methyl bromide beginning in 1998, I have the following comments:

Methyl bromide is not produced in Indonesia.

The producing countries of the substance have not banned the production of its compounds.

Even the United States, which uses 220 times as much methyl bromide as Indonesia (about 55,000 tons a year) and is known for its environmental consciousness, has not banned the use of the substance.

According to experts, the damage caused to the ozone layer by man's production of methyl bromide constitutes only a small portion compared to the damage caused by methyl bromide produced by nature.

Economically speaking, methyl bromide is the cheapest fumigating substance used in the fumigation of export commodities.

The alternative chemical is phosphine which is twice the price of methyl bromide.

Countries that export methyl bromide like Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines do not ban its use.

Montreal Protocol will begin to gradually phase out the use of methyl bromide in 2001 and abolish its use five years later.

Why has Indonesia decided to act so early, thereby affecting services which relate to the export drive?

SIRMAN WIDIATMO

Bekasi, West Java