Methyl bromide is a naturally occurring chemical which is produced by oceans, forest and grass fires, and volcanoes. It also can be man-made. Manufactured methyl bromide is used to fumigate buildings, soils and stored products. 

     Methyl bromide in soil fumigation combats a host of devastating organisms and diseases. These include nematodes, soilborne fungi, phytophtora, weeds and diseases which attack roots and thus, destroy and kill the plants.

     Methyl bromide, when needed to destroy pests and diseases in the soil, is used at most once a year. (For trees and vines, it is used only once every 10-30 years).

     Methyl bromide is used in the soil BEFORE planting begins. For this reason, it does not come into contact with crops while they are growing - and is not a food safety issue.

     California has extensive laws which are administered under the California Environmental Protection Agency - Department of Pesticide Regulation (CALEPA/DPR) regarding the use of any pesticides in agricultural production. CALEPA/DPR has monitoring and reporting programs to assure growers are abiding by the laws.

     CALEPA/DPR also has developed and set forth extensive permit conditions regarding the use of soil fumigants -- such as methyl bromide -- to provide for the safety of farmers, farm workers and the general public. These permit conditions include "buffer zones" which establish the distances and more than a 100-fold margin of safety between applications and any occupied structures including schools. The manual which governs over methyl bromide applications is two-inches thick!

     Methyl bromide is a very important tool which is used to protect structures from wood destroying pests, to protect against the introduction of diseases and pests in ports and through shipping, to preserve food after harvest from cockroaches, rodents, maggots, weevils, moths and beetles, as well as in soil fumigation to protect plants including those which provide vegetables, fruits and nuts.

     All tests on methyl bromide to date have shown that it is NOT a carcinogen. In 1994, an independent scientific panel appointed by the state to review data relative to pesticides decided by a 7-0 vote that the evidence does not support a determination that methyl bromide is a reproductive toxicant.

     According to the University of California, the loss of methyl bromide would cost direct losses to California business up to $346 million per year, with 9,894 full-time jobs lost annually. Air freight facilities and seaports in California depend upon the use of methyl bromide for their very existence - their business would be transferred to other U.S. ports and Mexico. Discontinuing the use of methyl bromide could also threaten California's real estate market - as methyl bromide plays a key role in the battle against termites and other wood-destroying pests.

     Methyl bromide, as well as other agricultural chemicals, can only be applied by qualified application specialists who have received extensive training in pest control and chemical usage. Applications are monitored by county agricultural commissioners and must be conducted in accordance with stringent state and federal regulations.

     The loss of methyl bromide will reduce our ability to control food borne diseases such as Salmonella, E. Coli., etc. carried by vectors such as cockroaches, rodents, maggots, weevils, beetles, etc.

     Methyl bromide increases the supply, quality, nutritiousness and safety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and processed foods. This leads to decreased rates of cancer, heart disease and other health related problems.

     The loss of methyl bromide means a loss of efficiency for American farmers, putting them at a competitive disadvantage to farmers in other countries.

 More than 100 crops benefit from methyl bromide.