There a number of countries who still continue to use hazardous chemical fumigants for the eradication of insects and mould, especially in Asia. In Japan also the fumigant Ekibon (a mixture of 14 percent ethylene oxide and 86 percent methyl bromide) is widely used. Our deep anxiety about this grave situation resulted in this presentation, which consists of two parts: an experiment in which we froze mostly Japanese lacquer ware (mainly done by Yamaguchi) and the research into how widely and how long the alternative safe method of freezing has been successfully used in Western countries. This was done by sending questionaires to the museums/libraries that actually use this method (done mainly by Tanimura). The both were quite successful. -- ICCROM