2006/957/EC: Council Decision of 18 December 2006 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of an amendment to the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters

The amendment to the Aarhus Convention concerning public participation in decision-making on genetically modified organisms is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the amendment to the Aarhus Convention is attached to this Decision.

1 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to deposit the instrument of approval of the amendment with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 14 of the Aarhus Convention.

2 The European Community and Member States which are Parties to the Aarhus Convention shall endeavour to deposit as soon as possible, and not later than 1 February 2008, their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval of the amendment.

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

1 In accordance with the modalities laid down in Annex I bis, each Party shall provide for early and effective information and public participation prior to making decisions on whether to permit the deliberate release into the environment and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms.

2 The requirements made by Parties in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article should be complementary and mutually supportive to the provisions of their national biosafety framework, consistent with the objectives of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.’.