Assorted and Sundry Barons

Various other corporations and industry associations participate in the transnational effort to perpetuate the use of the Class I Toxin and Class I ozone depleter, methyl bromide. They include:

1. Crop Protection Coalition

Chairman: David R. Riggs, President, California Strawberry
Commission

This coalition was formed in 1993, according to the industry publication The Packer, "to save key pesticides." Its first project has been to roll back the U.S. ban on methyl bromide, slated to take effect in the year 2001.[1] It works closely with the United States Department of Agriculture in its efforts to undermine the U.S. Clean Air Act's phase out of methyl bromide in the year 2001.[2]

Members Include: Ag-Fume Services, American Association of Nurserymen, California Grape and Tree Fruit League, California Tomato Board, California Fig Advisory Board, California Walnut Commission, California Raisin Industry, California Table Grape Commission, California Strawberry Commission, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Florida Tomato Committee, Florida Strawberry Growers Association, North American Strawberry Growers Association, Sun-Diamond Growers, Sunkist Growers, Western Termite and Pest Control.

2. United States Department of Agriculture

The USDA has worked closely with the Crop Protection Coalition and the methyl bromide industry in favor of methyl bromide.

3. Elf Atochem

12 Place de l'Iris

Paris 92062 Cedex 54

France

Tel: 33-1-4796-9401

Fax: 33-1-4796-9431

Partly owned by the French government, Elf-Atochem has the capacity to produce about 12,000 tons of methyl bromide annually.

4. The European Methyl Bromide Association

Members include Albemarle-Belgium, Elf Atochem-France, Eurobrom/Dead Sea Bromine-Netherlands, Great Lakes Chemical-USA.

Chair: Dr. Michael Spiegelstein of Dead Sea Bromine.

It is based in the European Chemical Industry Council's offices in Brussels.

5. The Association of Methyl Bromide Industry Japan

Japanese corporations produced about 9,800 tons of methyl bromide in 1993. Members of the industry association include methyl bromide producers Teijin Chemicals, which produces about 40 percent of Japan's methyl bromide, Ichikiawa Gousei, Doukai Kagaku, Nihon kayaku, Nippon Kagaku, Showa Denko, and Teijin Kasei. Mr. Tsuneo Sakurai represents Teijin Chemicals. Mr. Takamitsu Muraoka Represents Sanko Chemical Co.

6. The British Pest Control Association

The British Pest Control Association, including the fumigation corporations Rentokil and Igrox. Mr. Chris Watson represents Igrox and Mr. Colin Smith represents Rentokil. R.J. Strnd is Executive director of the BPCA.

7. The European Association of Soil Fumigators (SAFE)

Spokesmen include: Mr. Diego Planeta of Sicily, Mr. Frans Pauwels of DeCeuster Corp. in Belguim, and Mr. A. Carrera of Agroquimicos de Levante S.A., Spain.

8. Methyl Bromide Coordinating Committee

The Methyl Bromide Coordinating Committee is a lobbying group formed to maintain the use of methyl bromide in California.

Members: Agricultural Council of California, California Association of Nurseryment, California Cherry Advisory Board, California Farm Bureau, California Grap & Tree Fruit league, California Strawberry Commission, Law Offices of William J. Thomas, Kahn, Soares & Conway, Sun-Diamond Growers, TriCal Inc., Western Growers Association.

Endnotes

1. Larry Waterfield, "Industry Forms Group to Help Save Pesticides," The Packer, May 1993.
2. Letter from David Riggs, Crop Protection Coalition to Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, October 17, 1995.

• 181 Food and Agriculture