London Convention and London Protocol (IB532E) - 2016 Edition

London Convention

The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention) was adopted at the Inter-Governmental Conference on the Convention on the Dumping of Wastes at Sea convened in London from 30 October to 13 November 1972, at the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The London Convention entered into force on 30 August 1975, 30 days after the deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification or accession.

As at September 2016, 87 States were Contracting Parties to the London Convention. The Third Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties in 1978, the Fifth Consultative Meeting in 1980, the Twelfth Consultative Meeting in 1989, and the Sixteenth Consultative Meeting in 1993 adopted amendments to the annexes to the Convention. These amendments entered into force on 11 March 1979, on 11 March 1981, on 19 May 1990, and on 20 February 1994, respectively, for all Contracting Parties which had not deposited a declaration of objection with the Organization in accordance with article XV(2).

This publication contains the text of the London Convention, incorporating the above-mentioned amendments to the annexes.

London Protocol

The 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Protocol) was adopted at the Special Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention 1972 convened in London from 28 October to 8 November 1996, at the invitation of the International Maritime Organization. Pursuant to article 25, the London Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006. Upon entry into force, the London Protocol will supersede the Convention as between Contracting Parties to this Protocol which are also Contracting Parties to the Convention (article 23).

As at September 2016, there were 47 Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, 36 of which are also Parties to the Convention. The First Meeting of Contracting Parties in 2006, the Fourth Meeting of Contracting Parties 2009, and the Eighth Meeting of Contracting Parties in 2013, adopted amendments to the Protocol. The 2006 amendments entered into force in February 2007 for all Parties, whereas the 2009 and 2013 amendments are not in force.

Building on resolution LC.58(25), the IMO Secretary-General, in Circular Letter No. 2984 (issued on 20 September 2009), encouraged States, whether Party to the London Convention or not, to become Party to the Protocol as the pre-eminent global agreement to protect the marine environment from pollution caused by disposal at sea.

Foreword

London Convention

The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention) was adopted at the Inter-Governmental Conference on the Convention on the Dumping of Wastes at Sea convened in London from 30 October to 13 November 1972, at the invitation of the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The London Convention entered into force on 30 August 1975, 30 days after the deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification or accession.

As at September 2016, 87 States were Contracting Parties to the London Convention. The Third Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties in 1978, the Fifth Consultative Meeting in 1980, the Twelfth Consultative Meeting in 1989, and the Sixteenth Consultative Meeting in 1993 adopted amendments to the annexes to the Convention. These amendments entered into force on 11 March 1979, on 11 March 1981, on 19 May 1990,

and on 20 February 1994, respectively, for all Contracting Parties which had not deposited a declaration of objection with the Organization in accordance with article XV(2).

This publication contains the text of the London Convention, incorporating the above-mentioned amendments to the annexes.

London Protocol

The 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Protocol) was adopted at the Special Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention 1972 convened in London from 28 October to 8 November 1996, at the invitation of the International Maritime Organization. Pursuant to article 25, the London Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006. Upon entry into force, the London Protocol will supersede the Convention as between Contracting Parties to this Protocol which are also Contracting Parties to the Convention (article 23).

As at September 2016, there were 47 Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, 36 of which are also Parties to the Convention. The First Meeting of Contracting Parties in 2006, the Fourth Meeting of Contracting Parties 2009, and the Eighth Meeting of Contracting Parties in 2013, adopted amendments to the Protocol. The 2006 amendments entered into force in February 2007 for all Parties, whereas the 2009 and 2013 amendments are not in force.

Building on resolution LC.58(25), the IMO Secretary-General, in Circular Letter No. 2984 (issued on 20 September 2009), encouraged States, whether Party to the London Convention or not, to become Party to the Protocol as the pre-eminent global agreement to protect the marine environment from pollution caused by disposal at sea.

Additional information and useful resources can be found on the London Convention and Protocol website (http://www.londonprotocol.imo.org ), as well as in a series of publications available from IMO Publishing, most notably The London Protocol: What it is and how to implement it (IMO publication sales number I533E) and Waste Assessment Guidelines on the London Convention and Protocol (IMO publication sales number I531E).

Note that rules and criteria for participation of non-governmental international organizations for meetings or special meetings of Contracting Parties under the London Convention and the London Protocol can be found in resolution LDC.30(11) and LC 36/16, annex 2).

Foreword

London Convention

Articles

Annex I

Annex II

Annex III

London Protocol

Article 1 Definitions

Article 2 Objectives

Article 3 General obligations

Article 4 Dumping of wastes or other matter

Article 5 Incineration at sea

Article 6 Export of wastes or other matter

Article 7 Internal waters

Article 8 Exceptions

Article 9 Issuance of permits and reporting

Article 10 Application and enforcement

Article 11 Compliance procedures

Article 12 Regional cooperation

Article 13 Technical cooperation and assistance

Article 14 Scientific and technical research

Article 15 Responsibility and liability

Article 16 Settlement of disputes

Article 17 International cooperation

Article 18 Meetings of Contracting Parties

Article 19 Duties of the Organization

Article 20 Annexes

Article 21 Amendment of the Protocol

Article 22 Amendment of the annexes

Article 23 Relationship between the Protocol and the Convention

Article 24 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

Article 25 Entry into force

Article 26 Transitional period

Article 27 Withdrawal

Article 28 Depositary

Article 29 Authentic texts

Annex 1: Wastes or other matter that may be considered for dumping

Annex 2: Assessment of wastes or other matter that may be considered for dumping

Annex 3: Arbitral procedure

List of resolutions

Prospective amendments to the London Protocol

2009 amendment to article 6 of the Protocol concerning the export of wastes for dumping purposes (LP.3(4))

2013 amendment to the Protocol to regulate the placement of matter for ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities (LP.4(8))

Consequential amendments

Terms of reference for subsidiary bodies

London Convention and Protocol Scientific Groups

Compliance Procedures and Mechanisms under the London Protocol

Revised Rules of Procedure for meetings under the London Convention and London Protocol

Introduction

Rules of procedure for the consultative and special meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter, 1972

Rules of procedure for the meetings and special meetings of Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter, 1972

A??s a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented. ?

In other words, its role is to create a level playing-field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.