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