Greenpeace's position is that a phase out of methyl bromide in 1998 with a 50% cut in 1997 is the best option in environmental terms - approximately a six year earlier recovery in the ozone layer and about 14% less ozone loss than under current controls.

Alternatively, phasing out methyl bromide in 2001, with an early 25% cut in 1998 and placing controls on quarantine and pre-shipment uses and allowing for a 10 year delay for developing countries would accelerate recovery by six years and lower ozone loss by around 10%.

Although quarantine and pre-shipment uses of MeBr are relatively small at present they are growing steadily and unless controlled could have a major impact on ozone depletion within several decades. As an example, if the USA proposal of a phase-out in the year 2001 for all countries were adopted, but with no quarantine and pre-shipment controls on MeBr, the ozone layer would not recover. The increase in ozone depletion, above the base case, would be several hundred percent.