Europe and the United States have clashed again over international environmental standards, this time regarding controls on the use of methyl bromide, a pesticide that can deplete the ozone layer. This happened at a meeting of parties (mop) to the Montreal Protocol (it governs the use, worldwide, of ozone depleting substances), held in Nairobi, November 10-14, 2003. It began when the us sought broad exemptions on the use of this toxic pesticide, which industrialised countries are required to completely phase out by end-2004. No conclusion was reached on the issue. An extraordinary mop has been fixed in Montreal from March 24-26, 2004 to decide the matter. The us has warned it might overrule the treaty if its demand is not met.
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