The Fourth Meeting of the Parties decided to apply the following criteria and procedure in assessing an essential use for the purposes of control measures in Article 2 of the Protocol:
(a) that a use of a controlled substance should qualify as "essential" only if:
(i) it is necessary for the health, safety or is critical for the functioning of society (encompassing cultural and intellectual aspects); and
(ii) there are no available technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health;
(b) that production and consumption, if any, of a controlled substance for essential uses should be permitted only if:
(i) all economically feasible steps have been taken to minimize the essential use and any associated emission of the controlled substance; and
(ii) the controlled substance is not available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled controlled substances, also bearing in mind the developing countries' need for controlled substances;
(c) that production, if any, for essential use, will be in addition to production to supply the basic domestic needs of the Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Protocol prior to the phase-out of the controlled substances in those countries.