ENB @ UNEP MOP-15, Nairobi, Kenya, 10-14 November 2003

United Nations

The Fifteenth
Meeting of the Parties
to the Montreal Protocol
Nairobi, Kenya, 10 - 14 Nov., 2003

Version
Française


Editions:	Audio& Photos	HTM	PDF	TXT
Curtain Raiser
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Final Summary

MOP 15 HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, 11 Nov. 2003

Delegates met in Plenary throughout the day to continue discussion on numerous issues relating to exemptions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and other agenda items, whcih listed in bold headings to follow.

* Click here for a full text report on today's events

Girigi conference room 2, where MOP-15 plenary is being held.

Michael Graber, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat

The contact group on CFC MDIs convened in the morning. The contact groups on phase-out of methyl bromide and on conditions for granting CUEs for methyl bromide held meetings in the afternoon.

The contact group on adjustment reductions of methyl bromide met in the evening. The Budget Committee and the Executive Committee also met in the afternoon.

Gilbert Bankobeza (on right) Senior Legal Officer and member of the Ozone Secretariat since its foundation

Co-chair of the OEWG Maria Nolan (UK)

Further Specific Interim Reduction of Methyl Bromide:

Co-Chair Nolan established a contact group to further discuss the adjustments of the Montreal Protocol for further reductions of methyl bromide and suggested it meet in afternoon.

Left to right: Marco González, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat and Co-chair of the OEWG Khaled Klaly (Syrian Arab Republic)

Japan said it had "yet to be convinced on the proposal"

Amendment of the Montreal Protocol regarding the advancement of the deadline for annual data reporting

Listen to: The European Community introducing the amendment on data reporting, which states that Parties should submit their data by every 30 June after the end of the year in which the report is based rather than by every 30 September.
- Japan suggesting that Parties that were willing to report their data earlier would do so on a voluntary basis but no obligation should be established.

- Indonesia agreeing with Japan and affirming that Parties should consult with their implementation staff and identify what should be changed for improving reporting.

- European Community's Answer

Indonesia did not agree with the ammendment

Peter Horrocks of the European Community

Tom Batchelar of the European Community

Australia's Tamara Curll

The Status of destruction technologies for ozone- depleting substances and code of good housekeeping.

El Salvador and Kenya expressed concern that this draft decision was not economically feasible for many Article 5 Parties.

Australia presented the revised draft decision, which states that the Montreal Protocol does not require its Parties to destroy ODS.

Listen to:- Australia's Proposal;
El Salvador's reaction; Australia's response; Kenya's doubts

El Salvador's Francisco Guevara

Patrick McInerney, Australia

Update on the status of classification and labeling of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol

Australia, the US and Canada wanted to discuss the proposal internally before proceeding to consultations among parties, voicing concern with the process as recommended by the Secretariat.

Iran said that while a uniform coding system is desirable, countries still have their national systems, and concluded that in any case the Secretariat paper came too late.

Delegate of Iran

Hugo Figueroa, Guatemala

Discussion on Nominations for Critical-use Exemptions for Methyl Bromide

Listen to:

- Canada's position

- Mexico's position

California Strawberry Growers Association stressed farmers' necessity of CUEs.

Claudia McMurray and Duncan Hollis, US delegation

Mark Murai, California Strawberry Commission

Mexico, supported by Argentina and Guatemala, said that CUEs would create difficulty for Article 5 Parties in their ability to compete in the international market and lead to increases of methyl bromide consumptions.

A fumigation industry group representative stated that industries that have been attempting to phase out methyl bromide should not be punished by CUE grants.

Marcia Levaggi (Argentina) expressed concerns about the CUEs

David Mueller, representative of a fumigation industry group

Blaise Horisberger, Switzerland, supported one-year approval only

Delegates from Mexico (center and right) talking with Delegate from El Salvador (left)

K enya

Conditions for Granting CUEs for Methyl Bromide:

Kenya requested Parties to reconsider the importing ban of products grown on soils treated with methyl bromide, since it causes a conflict with WTO rules and harms Article 5 Parties' economy, especially in Africa.

Canada and the US reserved the right to address the issue again after consulting with their capitals.

Pierre Pinault (Environment Canada)

A waterfall in the Gigiri Complex

Phillipe Chemouney, Environment Canada (far left) and Tom Land, USEPA (far right) with Gary Taylor of the TEAP, who made a presentation on the Use of Halons in New Airframes during the morning plenary

Links to further information:

*The UNEP MOP-15 official site
http://www.unep.org/ozone/mop/15mop/15mop.shtml

*The Handbook for the International Treaties
for the Protection of the Ozone Layer - Sixth Edition (2003)
http://www.unep.org/ozone/Handbook2003.shtml

*ENB summary of MOP-14
http://enb.iisd.org/download/pdf/enb1924e.pdf

*Linkage's Coverage (audio and photos) of Montreal Protocol MOP-14
http://enb.iisd.org/ozone/mop14/