1. The Executive Committee:
(a) at its 30th Meeting, approved US $3,183,390 as the total funds that will be available to Argentina to achieve the complete phase-out of methyl bromide (MB) used in strawberries, flowers and protected vegetables (331 ODP tonnes);
(b) at its 36th Meeting, approved in principle, an additional US $3,588,000 as the total funds that will be available to Argentina to achieve the complete phase-out of MB used in tobacco and non-protected vegetable seedbeds, excluding quarantine and pre-shipment applications (additional 178.8 ODP tonnes).
2. As reported to the Ozone Secretariat, and consistent with information in the project document presented to the Executive Committee, the MB baseline for compliance for Argentina is 411.3 ODP tonnes, and the MB consumption in 1998 was 505 ODP tonnes, excluding about 31 ODP tonnes which Argentina states that it uses for quarantine and pre-shipment applications. Accordingly, Argentina must reduce its consumption of MB to 411.3 ODP tonnes to achieve compliance with the Montreal Protocol’s 2002 freeze obligation, and to 329 ODP tonnes to achieve compliance with the Protocol’s 20 per cent reduction in 2005.
3. Reductions resulting from the implementation of this project, together with reductions agreed in the approved project in strawberry, protected vegetables and cut flowers production (30th Meeting of the Executive Committee), will ensure that Argentina will meet the reduction schedule listed below. In this regard, Argentina commits, through the implementation of these projects, to reduce total national consumption of controlled uses of MB to no more than the following levels of consumption in the years listed below:
(*) an additional 22.8 ODP tonnes to be phased out without the assistance from the Multilateral Fund.
(**) the remaining 18 ODP tonnes is used for post-harvest fumigation of cotton and citrus.
4. The projects will phase-out all remaining soil uses of MB in strawberries, flowers, tobacco and vegetables in Argentina, excluding quarantine and pre-shipment applications. Argentina commits to permanently sustain the consumption levels indicated above through the use of import restrictions and other policies it may deem necessary. UNDP and UNIDO shall report back annually to the Executive Committee on the progress achieved in meeting the MB reductions required in the strawberries, flowers, tobacco and vegetables sectors.
5. In the context of the extensive training that is being carried out in the implementation of the project on strawberries, flowers and vegetable crops, UNIDO agrees to educate related farmers on ways to limit the use of metam sodium through the enhanced use of IPM techniques. UNIDO shall also report back to the Executive Committee on annual costs related to metam sodium and the use of the steam boilers being purchased with the project funds.
6. Funding for the projects will be disbursed by UNIDO and UNDP in line with the following yearly budget breakdown:
|
|
Level of funding (US $) |
||
|
Year |
Strawberries/vegetables/flowers |
Tobacco |
Total level of funding |
|
2001 |
1,050,500 |
220,000 |
1,270,500 |
|
2002 |
1,050,500 |
1,500,000 |
2,550,500 |
|
2003 |
1,082,390 |
467,000 |
1,549,390 |
|
2004 |
|
467,000 |
467,000 |
|
2005 |
|
467,000 |
467,000 |
|
2006 |
|
467,000 |
467,000 |
7. The Government of Argentina has reviewed the consumption data identified in this project and is confident that it is correct. Accordingly, the Government is entering into this agreement with the Executive Committee on the understanding that, should additional MB consumption (in these sectors) be identified at a later date, the responsibility to ensure its phase-out will lie solely with the Government. The remaining consumption of 18 ODP tonnes which figures in the reduction schedule listed above, is used for post-harvest fumigation of cotton and citrus. This remaining consumption, if eligible, will be addressed through a separate, future phase-out project.
8. The Government of Argentina, in agreement with UNDP and UNIDO, will have the flexibility in organizing and implementing the projects’ components which it deems more important in order to meet MB phase-out commitments noted above. UNDP and UNIDO agree to manage the funding for the project in a manner designed to ensure the achievement of the specific MB reductions agreed upon. UNDP and UNIDO shall also report back to the Executive Committee annually on the progress in meeting the reductions required by these projects.
9. These agreed conditions between the Government of Argentina and the Executive Committee have taken into account the already approved methyl bromide phase-out projects in strawberries, flowers and protected vegetable crops. Subsequently, they supersede the conditions agreed at the 30th Meeting of the Executive Committee.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/30/41, Decision 30/48, para. 74).
(Supporting document: UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/30/41 Annex III).
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/36/36, Decision 36/45, para. 86).
(Supporting document: UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/36/36 Annex IX).