This paper reviewed the international progress in phasing out
methyl bromide and the current status of research development
of its
alternatives. The author stressed that the presnt situation calls for raising the level of IPM in stored grain management and the only widely accepted fumigant phosphine around the world is now facing new pressure in improving its applied technology to delay the increase and spread of insect resistance to it and to meet the demand of environmental protection and the health safety along with the banning of
methyl bromide. The author also expected that the era of multiple use of single fumigant would be replaced by those fumigants for special of a certain field use gradually.The present situation urgently calls to develop more fumigants and other approaches especially physical methods for disinfestation in the field of grain storage,grain quarantine treatments and grain processing plants.On the basis of existing international achievements in the development of methyl bromide alternatives,the author suggested that the practicability of sulfuryl fluoride,ethyl formate,propylene oxide,and carbonyl sulfide in China be approached and considered that sufuryl fluoride is most promising.Some old fumigants as hydrogen cyanide and carbon disulfide also needs to be revaluated.