Methyl bromide has been an effective and important tool for controlling pests in food processing facilities. However, methyl bromide has been identified as an ozone-depleting substance under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and targets have been set for reduction and phase out of most uses of methyl bromide. A large portion of Canada's historical methyl bromide use has been in large space fumigation, (eg. in flour and oat mills, and in food processing operations).

The Canadian Methyl Bromide Industry Government Working Group established a subcommittee to examine alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation for the food processing sector. A number of pest management products and techniques exist or are under development for use in food processing facilities.

The PMRA is committed to promoting sustainable pest management, and is pleased to have acted as Chair and Secretariat for the Subcommittee on Alternatives for the Food Processing Sector and to have published the following documents on their behalf.

• Integrated Pest Management in Food Processing:
  • Working Without Methyl Bromide
    October 1998 - 134Kb
  • Adapting to a Phase Out of Methyl Bromide
    September 1998 - 184Kb