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Update:
Delegates
to MOP-11/COP-5 met in Plenary to take up outstanding items and consider
20 draft decisions under the MOP-11 agenda relating to, inter alia: the
definition of pre-shipment applications of methyl bromide (MB); new ozone-depleting
substances (ODS); and terms of reference for Assessment Panels. Delegates
then considered four draft decisions under the COP-5 agenda. Eleven draft
decisions were adopted in total. Working groups convened to consider:
proposed adjustments and an amendment to the Montreal Protocol; replenishment
of the Multilateral Fund; the fixed currency rate mechanism; the Beijing
Declaration; and the budget.
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Replenishment of the Multilateral Fund: The
UK, on behalf of the “Like-minded Group”, stated that a base case
of US$300 million would constitute a “firm and fair” assessment to
meet the legitimate needs of Article 5 countries for the triennium
2000-2002. She also stated that, although the Parties on whose behalf
she was speaking had different mandates, all were prepared to go above
the base case figure. |
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Measures to facilitate the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) transition:
The US
drew attention to concerns set out in the TEAP report relating
to low-income patients and the possible financial impact of placing
restrictions on generic MDI products. He said the text should acknowledge
that remaining technical, patient, safety and regulatory issues make
it difficult to set precise phase-out dates. |
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BURKINA
FASO offered to host MOP-12. Executive Secretary Sarma indicated that
the next meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) would be 10-14
July 2000 and MOP-12 is likely to be in the first or second week of
October 2000. Burkina Faso's invitation was accepted. |
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FINLAND,
on behalf of the EU, stated that the proposed fixed currency rate
mechanism would ease administrative difficulties, promote timely payment
and minimize the impact of currency fluctuations. She said selection
criteria for eligible currencies should be defined. |
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CANADA
noted that the proposed fixed rate currency mechanism is revenue neutral,
would avoid arrears and is used for other funds. |
| Co-Chair
Gelil convened a Working Group, to be chaired by Canada, to finalize
a draft decision on a fixed currency rate mechanism |
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Regarding the draft decision on the definition of pre-shipment applications
of MB, the CROP
PROTECTION COALITION noted that the proposed decision would limit
the exemption for quarantine and pre-shipment (QPS) uses of MB and
encouraged delegates to oppose the decision. |
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Tom Land (US),
President of the Implementation Committee, introduced a draft decision
on data reporting and draft decisions on compliance with the Protocol
by Turkmenistan and Bulgaria. He noted that the timeliness of reporting
had improved considerably, with 107 reports submitted in 1998, meaning
that the Implementation Committee would be able to review data from
1998 and 1999 as early as 2000.
Excerpts from the report on compliance
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Several
Parties proposed amendments to the draft decision on compliance with
the Protocol. INDIA, supported by CHINA and SENEGAL, suggested deleting
the statement that Parties not reporting data by 30 September the
following year would be considered non-compliant. |
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POLAND introduced
its draft decision on recommendations and clarifications of the
World Customs Organization concerning customs codes for ODS and
products containing ODS. He stated that a clear customs nomenclature
would help avoid illegal trade in ODS.
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K. Madhava
Sarma, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, noted that
testing a new substance to determine its ozone-depleting potential
costs US$100,000 and said the Scientific Panel should therefore
determine which chemicals to test.
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| ENB
writer Joanna Depledge and Michael Williams, UNEP Information Unit
on Conventions, discussing the latest developments in the negotiations.. |
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Zambia was
among several Parties that stated that drafting changes would be
needed on the text of the proposed Beijing Declaration, although
they did not foresee any significant obstacles to achieving consensus.
A number of Parties noted that a Beijing Declaration would be timely,
given that it is the tenth anniversary of the First Meeting of the
Parties to the Protocol, held in Helsinki, Finland.
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SWITZERLAND
proposed an additional paragraph to the Beijing
Declaration on further cooperation between the ozone and climate
change regimes.
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