Decisions, Recommendations & Agreements

A complete list of OSPAR Decisions, Recommendations & Agreements can be found here

Work to implement the OSPAR Convention and its strategies is taken forward through the adoption of decisions, which are legally binding on the Contracting Parties, recommendations and other agreements. Decisions and recommendations set out actions to be taken by the Contracting Parties. These measures are complemented by other agreements setting out:

issues of importance;
agreed programmes of monitoring, information collection or other work which the Contracting Parties commit to carry out;
guidelines or guidance setting out the way that any programme or measure should be implemented;
actions to be taken by the OSPAR Commission on behalf of the Contracting Parties.

OSPAR 2010 reviewed the applicability of Decisions, Recommendations and Other Agreements within the framework of the OSPAR Convention and agreed that a number of measures could be considered as fulfilled or overtaken by measures adopted at national level or within other forums and therefore not followed by OSPAR anymore. As a consequence, while being set aside, they are retained as part of OSPAR’s ‘acquis’. The list of these measures together with an explanation of why they have been set aside is at Annex 5 to OSPAR 10/23/1. Additionally, OSPAR 2018 agreed to set aside Agreement 2006-04 on the application of the EcoQO system.

Found 362 Decs, Recs & Ags:

OSPAR Recommendation 2003/4 on Controlling the Dispersal of Mercury from Crematoria. Consolidated text

Adopted:

2003, Bremen

Reference Number:

OSPAR Recommendation 2003/4

Type:

Recommendation

Work Area(s):

Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication

Language:

English

Decisions, Recommendations & Agreements

OSPAR Recommendation 2003/4 on Controlling the Dispersal of Mercury from Crematoria. Consolidated text

Requirements for the submission of national comments (to ICES when submitting monitoring data (Replaces agreement 2001-9). Amended by ASMO 2007

Reporting Formats on Mercury Losses from the Chlor-Alkali Industry (replaces agreement 2000-04)

OSPAR Recommendation 2003/3 on a Network of Marine Protected Areas

Minimisation of discharges and, where appropriate, the achievement of zero discharges of displacement water

Guidance on a common framework for the establishment of the monitoring strategies for each of the substances (or groups of substances) on the OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action

Guidelines for the Identification and Selection of Marine Protected Areas in the OSPAR Maritime Area. Update 2007 and 2016

JAMP Guidelines on the Measurement of Atmospheric Inputs of PAHs. Update 2005

Common OSPAR/EU Approach on Risk Assessment Methodology for the Marine Environment

Guidance on Input Trend Assessment and the Adjustment of Loads. Revision 2017

CEMP Guidelines for Monitoring Contaminants in Sediments. Revised in 2018

OSPAR List of Substances/Compounds Liable to Cause Taint. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

Common Interpretation on which chemicals are covered and not covered by the Harmonised Mandatory Control System under OSPAR Decision 2000/2. Updated in 2008

Further Guidance on the Assessment of the Toxicity of Substances under the Harmonised Pre-Screening Scheme of OSPAR Recommendation 2000/4

Further Guidance on the Role of Marine Risk Assessment

JAMP Guidelines for the Estimation of Riverine PAH Inputs

OSPAR Recommendation 2002/1 on Discharge Limit Values for Existing Aluminium Electrolysis Plants. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

Guidelines for the Consideration of the Best Environmental Option for the Management of OPF-Contaminated Cuttings Residue

Guidelines on Quality Assurance for Biological Monitoring in the OSPAR Area

OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Update 2007.

Guidance on How to Apply the Safety Net Procedure for the Inclusion of Substances in the OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern

OSPAR Recommendation 2001/1 for the Management of Produced Water from Offshore Installations. Consolidated text

Programme for the More Detailed Implementation of the OSPAR Strategy with regard to Radioactive Substances. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

OSPAR Decision 2001/1 on the Review of Authorisations for Discharges or Releases of Radioactive Substances from Nuclear Reprocessing Activities. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

Procedure for Publication of OSPAR Reports

Inside Convention