Geneva, 18 June 1999 -- The 19th meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer concluded here today after finalizing a series of recommendations to the Eleventh Meeting of the Parties, to be held in Beijing from 29 November to 3 December 1999.

The key item on the agenda was the fourth replenishment of the Multilateral Fund. The Fund is helping developing countries to meet their commitment starting commitment of freezing1 July 1999 to phase-out CFCs and halons at average 1995-1997 levels starting on

1 July 1999 and phasing-out these chemicals by the year 2010. Developed

The Working Group reviewed an analysis conducted by a special Task

Force

set up earlier under the auspices of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel. The Task Force report finds that growth rates of CFCs in the baseline

period of 1995-1997 were significantly lower than expected.

This implies that, to comply with the minimal requirements of the

Protocol for a freeze on CFC and halon consumption, Panel report calculated that the 2000-2002 replenishment of the Fund could be set at US$306 million -- significantly lower than the $465 million required in allocated for 1997-1999. However, if governments want to keep up the phase-out momentum for the period 2003-2005, the Task Force suggested that a replenishment level of $500 million would be more appropriate.

The Working Group asked the Task Force Panel to conduct further study sensitivity analyses for various factors and to report back in August. The Group will meet again in Washington D.C. from 30 September to 1 October to consider the results. The final decision on replenishment will be taken at the December Meeting of the Parties.

Other key items on the Working Group agenda were proposals by the European Community to advance the phase-out schedule for HCFCs (a leading replacement for CFCs), to introduce trade controls on methyl bromide, and to control new ozone-depleting substances emerging from research laboratories. The Working opinions of the Parties on the proposals were divided. These items will be further considered in Beijing in December.

The Working Group also considered the 1998 assessment of the ozone layer as well as the environmental impacts and technological and economic aspects presented by the assessment panels. The meeting noted that the total abundance of the chemicals in the lower atmosphere has peaked, though some gases, such as halons, are still increasing. The recovery of the ozone layer will be observable over the next two decades if the Protocol is fully implemented by all the countries.

A presentation was made to the Working Group on report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere that was produced jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Any impact of aviation on ozone would come only from a large fleet of supersonic aircraft that could be planned for the next century. The meeting recommended that the scientists continue their studies on this issue and report back any significant findings.

The Working Group meeting was attended by representatives from 110 governments and 35 non-governmental organizations.