Memorandum of Understanding: Protection of the Ozone layer by phasing out Methyl Bromide

Methyl Bromide is another Ozone Depleting Substance among the 96 chemicals with a high ozone depleting potential which has to be phased out under the provisions of the Montreal Protocol. In Mauritius “Les Moulins De la Concorde” is the main user of Methyl Bromide as a fumigant but has managed to control insect pests in the flour mill by adopting an Integrated Pest Management since 2002. The trial of a new ozone friendly fumigant Sulfuryl Fluoride, is now being envisaged by the company as the company is not allowed to import Methyl Bromide. A Memorandum of Understanding has thus been signed between the Ministry of Environment and “Les Moulins De la Concorde” in March 2007.

This project will be partly financed under the Terminal Phase-out Management Plan (TPMP) by the Multilateral Fund to the Montreal Protocol through the German Cooperation Agency, GTZ-Proklima .to the tune of about US $ 40 000.

With this project about 700 kg of Methyl Bromide will be eliminated. This initiative is a new one in the African region and after successful completion will be an example for adopting by developing countries.