May 12, 2008

China halts fumigant use in grain storage

China has recently ordered the phasing out of methyl bromide as a fumigant for grain storage for environmental protection, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said.

Among three sectors, grain storage became the first to complete the phase out.

A total of 210 tonnes of methyl bromide in 128 grain depots had been phased out by January 2007, Zhu Guangyao, vice-minister of the MEP, said Monday according to China Daily.

Methyl bromide has been considered as an adverse substance to the ozone layer, which China aimed to phase out by 2015.

The other two industries targeted to phase out methyl bromide use are the tobacco and agriculture sectors, the report said.

The State Administration of Grain (SAG) said that phosphine gas recirculation under plastic film and phosphine mixed with carbon dioxide fumigation technology has been identified as the two alternative technologies for methyl bromide.

Phosphine was recognized as more environmentally friendly and less likely to leave residues in foodstuffs, according to experts.

China would continue to monitor the effect and resistance of alternative technology and enhance field tests of new alternative pesticides, as the drug resistance of pests is expected to grow after the phase-out, He Yi, director of the department of science and technology development of the SAG, said.