1. For the purposes of this Article: (a) References to “mercury” include mixtures of mercury with other substances, including alloys of mercury, with a mercury concentration of at least 95 per cent by weight; and (b) “Mercury compounds” means mercury (I) chloride (known also as calomel), mercury (II) oxide, mercury (II) sulphate, mercury (II) nitrate, cinnabar and mercury sulphide. 2. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to: (a) Quantities of mercury or mercury compounds to be used for laboratory-scale research or as a reference standard; or (b) Naturally occurring trace quantities of mercury or mercury compounds present in such products as non-mercury metals, ores, or mineral products, including coal, or products derived from these materials, and unintentional trace quantities in chemical products; or (c) Mercury -added products. 3. Each Party shall not allow primary mercury mining that was not being conducted within its territory at the date of entry into force of the Convention for it. 4. Each Party shall only allow primary mercury mining that was being conducted within its territory at the date of entry into force of the Convention for it for a period of up to fifteen years after that date. During this period, mercury from such mining shall only be used in manufacturing of mercury-added products in accordance with Article 4 , in manufacturing processes in accordance with Article 5 , or be disposed in accordance with Article 11 , using operations which do not lead to recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct re-use or alternative uses. 5. Each Party shall: (a) Endeavour to identify individual stocks of mercury or mercury compounds exceeding 50 metric tons, as well as sources of mercury supply generating stocks exceeding 10 metric tons per year, that are located within its territory; (b) Take measures to ensure that, where the Party determines that excess mercury from the decommissioning of chlor-alkali facilities is available, such mercury is disposed of in accordance with the guidelines for environmentally sound management referred to in paragraph 3 (a) of Article 11 , using operations that do not lead to recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct re-use or alternative uses. 6. Each Party shall not allow the export of mercury except: (a) To a Party that has provided the exporting Party with its written consent, and only for the purpose of: (i) A use allowed to the importing Party under this Convention; or (ii) Environmentally sound interim storage as set out in Article 10 ; or (b) To a non-Party that has provided the exporting Party with its written consent, including certification demonstrating that: (i) The non-Party has measures in place to ensure the protection of human health and the environment and to ensure its compliance with the provisions of Articles 10 and 11 ; and (ii) Such mercury will be used only for a use allowed to a Party under this Convention or for environmentally sound interim storage as set out in Article 10 . 7. An exporting Party may rely on a general notification to the Secretariat by the importing Party or non-Party as the written consent required by paragraph 6 . Such general notification shall set out any terms and conditions under which the importing Party or non-Party provides its consent. The notification may be revoked at any time by that Party or non-Party . The Secretariat shall keep a public register of all such notifications. 8. Each Party shall not allow the import of mercury from a non-Party to whom it will provide its written consent unless the non-Party has provided certification that the mercury is not from sources identified as not allowed under paragraph 3 or paragraph 5 (b) . 9. A Party that submits a general notification of consent under paragraph 7 may decide not to apply paragraph 8 , provided that it maintains comprehensive restrictions on the export of mercury and has domestic measures in place to ensure that imported mercury is managed in an environmentally sound manner. The Party shall provide a notification of such decision to the Secretariat, including information describing its export restrictions and domestic regulatory measures, as well as information on the quantities and countries of origin of mercury imported from non-Parties. The Secretariat shall maintain a public register of all such notifications. The Implementation and Compliance Committee shall review and evaluate any such notifications and supporting information in accordance with Article 15 and may make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Conference of the Parties. 10. The procedure set out in paragraph 9 shall be available until the conclusion of the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties. After that time, it shall cease to be available, unless the Conference of the Parties decides otherwise by simple majority of the Parties present and voting , except with respect to a Party that has provided a notification under paragraph 9 before the end of the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties. 11. Each Party shall include in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 information showing that the requirements of this Article have been met. 12. The Conference of the Parties shall at its first meeting provide further guidance in regard to this Article, particularly in regard to paragraphs 5 (a) , 6 and 8 , and shall develop and adopt the required content of the certification referred to in paragraphs 6 (b) and 8 . 13. The Conference of the Parties shall evaluate whether the trade in specific mercury compounds compromises the objective of this Convention and consider whether specific mercury compounds should, by their listing in an additional annex adopted in accordance with Article 27 , be made subject to paragraphs 6 and 8 .

1. Each Party shall not allow, by taking appropriate measures, the manufacture, import or export of mercury-added products listed in Part I of Annex A after the phase-out date specified for those products, except where an exclusion is specified in Annex A or the Party has a registered exemption pursuant to Article 6 . 2. A Party may, as an alternative to paragraph 1 , indicate at the time of ratification or upon entry into force of an amendment to Annex A for it, that it will implement different measures or strategies to address products listed in Part I of Annex A. A Party may only choose this alternative if it can demonstrate that it has already reduced to a de minimis level the manufacture, import, and export of the large majority of the products listed in Part I of Annex A and that it has implemented measures or strategies to reduce the use of mercury in additional products not listed in Part I of Annex A at the time it notifies the Secretariat of its decision to use this alternative. In addition, a Party choosing this alternative shall: (a) Report at the first opportunity to the Conference of the Parties a description of the measures or strategies implemented, including a quantification of the reductions achieved; (b) Implement measures or strategies to reduce the use of mercury in any products listed in Part I of Annex A for which a de minimis value has not yet been obtained; (c) Consider additional measures to achieve further reductions; and (d) Not be eligible to claim exemptions pursuant to Article 6 for any product category for which this alternative is chosen. No later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties shall, as part of the review process under paragraph 8 , review the progress and the effectiveness of the measures taken under this paragraph. 3. Each Party shall take measures for the mercury-added products listed in Part II of Annex A in accordance with the provisions set out therein. 4. The Secretariat shall, on the basis of information provided by Parties, collect and maintain information on mercury-added products and their alternatives, and shall make such information publicly available. The Secretariat shall also make publicly available any other relevant information submitted by Parties. 5. Each Party shall take measures to prevent the incorporation into assembled products of mercury-added products the manufacture, import and export of which are not allowed for it under this Article. 6. Each Party shall discourage the manufacture and the distribution in commerce of mercury-added products not covered by any known use of mercury-added products prior to the date of entry into force of the Convention for it, unless an assessment of the risks and benefits of the product demonstrates environmental or human health benefits. A Party shall provide to the Secretariat, as appropriate, information on any such product, including any information on the environmental and human health risks and benefits of the product. The Secretariat shall make such information publicly available. 7. Any Party may submit a proposal to the Secretariat for listing a mercury-added product in Annex A, which shall include information related to the availability, technical and economic feasibility and environmental and health risks and benefits of the non-mercury alternatives to the product, taking into account information pursuant to paragraph 4 . 8. No later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties shall review Annex A and may consider amendments to that Annex in accordance with Article 27 . 9. In reviewing Annex A pursuant to paragraph 8 , the Conference of the Parties shall take into account at least: (a) Any proposal submitted under paragraph 7 ; (b) The information made available pursuant to paragraph 4 ; and (c) The availability to the Parties of mercury-free alternatives that are technically and economically feasible, taking into account the environmental and human health risks and benefits.

1. For the purposes of this Article and Annex B, manufacturing processes in which mercury or mercury compounds are used shall not include processes using mercury-added products, processes for manufacturing mercury-added products or processes that process mercury-containing waste. 2. Each Party shall not allow, by taking appropriate measures, the use of mercury or mercury compounds in the manufacturing processes listed in Part I of Annex B after the phase-out date specified in that Annex for the individual processes, except where the Party has a registered exemption pursuant to Article 6 . 3. Each Party shall take measures to restrict the use of mercury or mercury compounds in the processes listed in Part II of Annex B in accordance with the provisions set out therein. 4. The Secretariat shall, on the basis of information provided by Parties, collect and maintain information on processes that use mercury or mercury compounds and their alternatives, and shall make such information publicly available. Other relevant information may also be submitted by Parties and shall be made publicly available by the Secretariat. 5. Each Party with one or more facilities that use mercury or mercury compounds in the manufacturing processes listed in Annex B shall: (a) Take measures to address emissions and releases of mercury or mercury compounds from those facilities; (b) Include in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 information on the measures taken pursuant to this paragraph; and (c) Endeavour to identify facilities within its territory that use mercury or mercury compounds for processes listed in Annex B and submit to the Secretariat, no later than three years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it, information on the number and types of such facilities and the estimated annual amount of mercury or mercury compounds used in those facilities. The Secretariat shall make such information publicly available. 6. Each Party shall not allow the use of mercury or mercury compounds in a facility that did not exist prior to the date of entry into force of the Convention for it using the manufacturing processes listed in Annex B. No exemptions shall apply to such facilities. 7. Each Party shall discourage the development of any facility using any other manufacturing process in which mercury or mercury compounds are intentionally used that did not exist prior to the date of entry into force of the Convention, except where the Party can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Conference of the Parties that the manufacturing process provides significant environmental and health benefits and that there are no technically and economically feasible mercury-free alternatives available providing such benefits. 8. Parties are encouraged to exchange information on relevant new technological developments, economically and technically feasible mercury-free alternatives, and possible measures and techniques to reduce and where feasible to eliminate the use of mercury and mercury compounds in, and emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds from, the manufacturing processes listed in Annex B. 9. Any Party may submit a proposal to amend Annex B in order to list a manufacturing process in which mercury or mercury compounds are used. It shall include information related to the availability, technical and economic feasibility and environmental and health risks and benefits of the non-mercury alternatives to the process. 10. No later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties shall review Annex B and may consider amendments to that Annex in accordance with Article 27 . 11. In any review of Annex B pursuant to paragraph 10 , the Conference of the Parties shall take into account at least: (a) Any proposal submitted under paragraph 9 ; (b) The information made available under paragraph 4 ; and (c) The availability for the Parties of mercury-free alternatives which are technically and economically feasible taking into account the environmental and health risks and benefits.

1. Any State or regional economic integration organization may register for one or more exemptions from the phase-out dates listed in Annex A and Annex B, hereafter referred to as an “exemption”, by notifying the Secretariat in writing: (a) On becoming a Party to this Convention; or (b) In the case of any mercury-added product that is added by an amendment to Annex A or any manufacturing process in which mercury is used that is added by an amendment to Annex B, no later than the date upon which the applicable amendment enters into force for the Party . Any such registration shall be accompanied by a statement explaining the Party 's need for the exemption. 2. An exemption can be registered either for a category listed in Annex A or B or for a sub-category identified by any State or regional economic integration organization. 3. Each Party that has one or more exemptions shall be identified in a register. The Secretariat shall establish and maintain the register and make it available to the public. 4. The register shall include: (a) A list of the Parties that have one or more exemptions; (b) The exemption or exemptions registered for each Party ; and (c) The expiration date of each exemption. 5. Unless a shorter period is indicated in the register by a Party , all exemptions pursuant to paragraph 1 shall expire five years after the relevant phase-out date listed in Annex A or B. 6. The Conference of the Parties may, at the request of a Party , decide to extend an exemption for five years unless the Party requests a shorter period. In making its decision, the Conference of the Parties shall take due account of: (a) A report from the Party justifying the need to extend the exemption and outlining activities undertaken and planned to eliminate the need for the exemption as soon as feasible; (b) Available information, including in respect of the availability of alternative products and processes that are free of mercury or that involve the consumption of less mercury than the exempt use; and (c) Activities planned or under way to provide environmentally sound storage of mercury and disposal of mercury wastes. An exemption may only be extended once per product per phase-out date. 7. A Party may at any time withdraw an exemption upon written notification to the Secretariat. The withdrawal of an exemption shall take effect on the date specified in the notification. 8. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 , no State or regional economic integration organization may register for an exemption after five years after the phase-out date for the relevant product or process listed in Annex A or B, unless one or more Parties remain registered for an exemption for that product or process, having received an extension pursuant to paragraph 6 . In that case, a State or regional economic integration organization may, at the times set out in paragraphs 1 (a) and (b) , register for an exemption for that product or process, which shall expire ten years after the relevant phase-out date. 9. No Party may have an exemption in effect at any time after 10 years after the phase-out date for a product or process listed in Annex A or B.

1. The measures in this Article and in Annex C shall apply to artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing in which mercury amalgamation is used to extract gold from ore. 2. Each Party that has artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing subject to this Article within its territory shall take steps to reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury and mercury compounds in, and the emissions and releases to the environment of mercury from, such mining and processing. 3. Each Party shall notify the Secretariat if at any time the Party determines that artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing in its territory is more than insignificant. If it so determines the Party shall: (a) Develop and implement a national action plan in accordance with Annex C; (b) Submit its national action plan to the Secretariat no later than three years after entry into force of the Convention for it or three years after the notification to the Secretariat, whichever is later; and (c) Thereafter, provide a review every three years of the progress made in meeting its obligations under this Article and include such reviews in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 . 4. Parties may cooperate with each other and with relevant intergov­ernmental organizations and other entities, as appropriate, to achieve the objectives of this Article. Such cooperation may include: (a) Development of strategies to prevent the diversion of mercury or mercury compounds for use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining and processing; (b) Education, outreach and capacity-building initiatives; (c) Promotion of research into sustainable non-mercury alternative practices; (d) Provision of technical and financial assistance; (e) Partnerships to assist in the implementation of their com­mitments under this Article; and (f) Use of existing information exchange mechanisms to promote knowledge, best environmental practices and alternative technologies that are environmentally, technically, socially and economically viable.

1. This Article concerns controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions of mercury and mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, to the atmosphere through measures to control emissions from the point sources falling within the source categories listed in Annex D. 2. For the purposes of this Article: (a) “Emissions ” means emissions of mercury or mercury compounds to the atmosphere; (b) “Relevant source ” means a source falling within one of the source categories listed in Annex D. A Party may, if it chooses, establish criteria to identify the sources covered within a source category listed in Annex D so long as those criteria for any category include at least 75 per cent of the emissions from that category; (c) “New source ” means any relevant source within a category listed in Annex D, the construction or substantial modification of which is commenced at least one year after the date of: (i) Entry into force of this Convention for the Party concerned; or (ii) Entry into force for the Party concerned of an amendment to Annex D where the source becomes subject to the provisions of this Convention only by virtue of that amendment; (d) “Substantial modification ” means modification of a relevant source that results in a significant increase in emissions, excluding any change in emissions resulting from by-product recovery. It shall be a matter for the Party to decide whether a modification is substantial or not; (e) “Existing source ” means any relevant source that is not a new source; (f) “Emission limit value ” means a limit on the concentration, mass or emission rate of mercury or mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, emitted from a point source. 3. A Party with relevant sources shall take measures to control emissions and may prepare a national plan setting out the measures to be taken to control emissions and its expected targets, goals and outcomes. Any plan shall be submitted to the Conference of the Parties within four years of the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party . If a Party develops an implementation plan in accordance with Article 20 , the Party may include in it the plan prepared pursuant to this paragraph. 4. For its new sources, each Party shall require the use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control and, where feasible, reduce emissions, as soon as practicable but no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party . A Party may use emission limit values that are consistent with the application of best available techniques. 5. For its existing sources, each Party shall include in any national plan, and shall implement, one or more of the following measures, taking into account its national circumstances, and the economic and technical feasibility and affordability of the measures, as soon as practicable but no more than ten years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it: (a) A quantified goal for controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions from relevant sources; (b) Emission limit values for controlling and, where feasible, reducing emissions from relevant sources; (c) The use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control emissions from relevant sources; (d) A multi-pollutant control strategy that would deliver co-benefits for control of mercury emissions; (e) Alternative measures to reduce emissions from relevant sources. 6. Parties may apply the same measures to all relevant existing sources or may adopt different measures in respect of different source categories. The objective shall be for those measures applied by a Party to achieve reasonable progress in reducing emissions over time. 7. Each Party shall establish, as soon as practicable and no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it, and maintain thereafter, an inventory of emissions from relevant sources. 8. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first meeting, adopt guidance on: (a) Best available techniques and on best environmental practices, taking into account any difference between new and existing sources and the need to minimize cross-media effects; and (b) Support for Parties in implementing the measures set out in paragraph 5 , in particular in determining goals and in setting emission limit values. 9. The Conference of the Parties shall, as soon as practicable, adopt guidance on: (a) Criteria that Parties may develop pursuant to paragraph 2 (b); (b) The methodology for preparing inventories of emissions. 10. The Conference of the Parties shall keep under review, and update as appropriate, the guidance developed pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9 . Parties shall take the guidance into account in implementing the relevant provisions of this Article. 11. Each Party shall include information on its implementation of this Article in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 , in particular information concerning the measures it has taken in accordance with paragraphs 4 to 7 and the effectiveness of the measures.

1. This Article concerns controlling and, where feasible, reducing releases of mercury and mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, to land and water from the relevant point sources not addressed in other provisions of this Convention. 2. For the purposes of this Article: (a) “Releases ” means releases of mercury or mercury compounds to land or water; (b) “Relevant source ” means any significant anthropogenic point source of release as identified by a Party that is not addressed in other provisions of this Convention; (c) “New source ” means any relevant source, the construction or substantial modification of which is commenced at least one year after the date of entry into force of this Convention for the Party concerned; (d) “Substantial modification ” means modification of a relevant source that results in a significant increase in releases, excluding any change in releases resulting from by-product recovery. It shall be a matter for the Party to decide whether a modification is substantial or not; (e) “Existing source ” means any relevant source that is not a new source; (f) “Release limit value ” means a limit on the concentration or mass of mercury or mercury compounds, often expressed as “total mercury”, released from a point source. 3. Each Party shall, no later than three years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it and on a regular basis thereafter, identify the relevant point source categories. 4. A Party with relevant sources shall take measures to control releases and may prepare a national plan setting out the measures to be taken to control releases and its expected targets, goals and outcomes. Any plan shall be submitted to the Conference of the Parties within four years of the date of entry into force of the Convention for that Party . If a Party develops an implementation plan in accordance with Article 20 , the Party may include in it the plan prepared pursuant to this paragraph. 5. The measures shall include one or more of the following, as appropriate: (a) Release limit values to control and, where feasible, reduce releases from relevant sources; (b) The use of best available techniques and best environmental practices to control releases from relevant sources; (c) A multi-pollutant control strategy that would deliver co-benefits for control of mercury releases; (d) Alternative measures to reduce releases from relevant sources. 6. Each Party shall establish, as soon as practicable and no later than five years after the date of entry into force of the Convention for it, and maintain thereafter, an inventory of releases from relevant sources. 7. The Conference of the Parties shall, as soon as practicable, adopt guidance on: (a) Best available techniques and on best environmental practices, taking into account any difference between new and existing sources and the need to minimize cross-media effects; (b) The methodology for preparing inventories of releases. 8. Each Party shall include information on its implementation of this Article in its reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 , in particular information concerning the measures it has taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 6 and the effectiveness of the measures.

1. This Article shall apply to the interim storage of mercury and mercury compounds as defined in Article 3 that do not fall within the meaning of the definition of mercury wastes set out in Article 11 . 2. Each Party shall take measures to ensure that the interim storage of such mercury and mercury compounds intended for a use allowed to a Party under this Convention is undertaken in an environmentally sound manner, taking into account any guidelines, and in accordance with any requirements, adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 . 3. The Conference of the Parties shall adopt guidelines on the environmentally sound interim storage of such mercury and mercury compounds, taking into account any relevant guidelines developed under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and other relevant guidance. The Conference of the Parties may adopt requirements for interim storage in an additional annex to this Convention in accordance with Article 27 . 4. Parties shall cooperate, as appropriate, with each other and with relevant intergovernmental organizations and other entities, to enhance capacity-building for the environmentally sound interim storage of such mercury and mercury compounds.

1. The relevant definitions of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal shall apply to wastes covered under this Convention for Parties to the Basel Convention. Parties to this Convention that are not Parties to the Basel Convention shall use those definitions as guidance as applied to wastes covered under this Convention. 2. For the purposes of this Convention, mercury wastes means substances or objects: (a) Consisting of mercury or mercury compounds; (b) Containing mercury or mercury compounds; or (c) Contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds, 2. In a quantity above the relevant thresholds defined by the Conference of the Parties, in collaboration with the relevant bodies of the Basel Convention in a harmonized manner, that are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of national law or this Convention. This definition excludes overburden, waste rock and tailings from mining, except from primary mercury mining, unless they contain mercury or mercury compounds above thresholds defined by the Conference of the Parties. 3. Each Party shall take appropriate measures so that mercury waste is: (a) Managed in an environmentally sound manner, taking into account the guidelines developed under the Basel Convention and in accordance with requirements that the Conference of the Parties shall adopt in an additional annex in accordance with Article 27 . In developing requirements, the Conference of the Parties shall take into account Parties' waste management regulations and programmes; (b) Only recovered, recycled, reclaimed or directly re-used for a use allowed to a Party under this Convention or for environmentally sound disposal pursuant to paragraph 3 (a) ; (c) For Parties to the Basel Convention, not transported across international boundaries except for the purpose of environmentally sound disposal in conformity with this Article and with that Convention. In circumstances where the Basel Convention does not apply to transport across international boundaries, a Party shall allow such transport only after taking into account relevant international rules, standards, and guidelines. 4. The Conference of the Parties shall seek to cooperate closely with the relevant bodies of the Basel Convention in the review and update, as appropriate, of the guidelines referred to in paragraph 3 (a) . 5. Parties are encouraged to cooperate with each other and with relevant intergovernmental organizations and other entities, as appropriate, to develop and maintain global, regional and national capacity for the management of mercury wastes in an environmentally sound manner.

1. Each Party shall endeavour to develop appropriate strategies for identifying and assessing sites contaminated by mercury or mercury compounds. 2. Any actions to reduce the risks posed by such sites shall be performed in an environmentally sound manner incorporating, where appropriate, an assessment of the risks to human health and the environment from the mercury or mercury compounds they contain. 3. The Conference of the Parties shall adopt guidance on managing contaminated sites that may include methods and approaches for: (a) Site identification and characterization; (b) Engaging the public; (c) Human health and environmental risk assessments; (d) Options for managing the risks posed by contaminated sites; (e) Evaluation of benefits and costs; and (f) Validation of outcomes. 4. Parties are encouraged to cooperate in developing strategies and implementing activities for identifying, assessing, prioritizing, managing and, as appropriate, remediating contaminated sites.

1. Each Party shall report to the Conference of the Parties, through the Secretariat, on the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of this Convention and on the effectiveness of such measures and the possible challenges in meeting the objectives of the Convention. 2. Each Party shall include in its reporting the information as called for in Articles 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 and 9 of this Convention. 3. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first meeting, decide upon the timing and format of the reporting to be followed by the Parties, taking into account the desirability of coordinating reporting with other relevant chemicals and wastes conventions.

1. The Conference of the Parties shall evaluate the effectiveness of this Convention, beginning no later than six years after the date of entry into force of the Convention and periodically thereafter at intervals to be decided by it. 2. To facilitate the evaluation, the Conference of the Parties shall, at its first meeting, initiate the establishment of arrangements for providing itself with comparable monitoring data on the presence and movement of mercury and mercury compounds in the environment as well as trends in levels of mercury and mercury compounds observed in biotic media and vulnerable populations. 3. The evaluation shall be conducted on the basis of available scientific, environmental, technical, financial and economic information, including: (a) Reports and other monitoring information provided to the Conference of the Parties pursuant to paragraph 2 ; (b) Reports submitted pursuant to Article 21 ; (c) Information and recommendations provided pursuant to Article 15 ; and (d) Reports and other relevant information on the operation of the financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity-building arrangements put in place under this Convention.

State of conservation and factors affecting the nominated property This section shall include accurate information on the present state of conservation of the nominated property (including information on its physical condition of the property and conservation measures in place). It shall also include a description of the factors affecting the nominated property (including threats). Information provided in this section constitutes the baseline data which are necessary to monitor the state of conservation of the nominated property in the future.

The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly, take all appropriate measures in conformity with international law and in accordance with this Convention and those of its protocols in force to which they are parties to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the Convention area and to ensure sound environmental management, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal and in accordance with their capabilities.

Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its laws, the provisions of this Protocol, and international law, take appropriate measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the Convention area from land-based sources and activities, using for this purpose the best practicable means at its disposal and in accordance with its capabilities.

1. The Contracting Parties shall, within their capabilities, co-operate in taking all necessary measures, both preventive and remedial, for the protection of the marine and coastal environment of the wider Caribbean region, particularly the coastal areas of the islands of the region, from oil spill incidents. 2. The Contracting Parties shall, within their capabilities, establish and maintain, or ensure the establishment and maintenance of, the means of responding to oil spill incidents and shall endeavour to reduce the risk thereof. Such means shall include the enactment, as necessary, of relevant legislation, the preparation of contingency plans, the identification and development of the capability to respond to an oil spill incident and the designation of an authority responsible for the implementation of this Protocol.

the regulation or prohibition of the dumping or discharge of wastes and other substances that may endanger protected areas;