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. Further reviews are undertaken regularly and as a result:

OSPAR 2018 agreed to set aside Agreement 2006-04 on the application of the EcoQO system and Agreement 2011-01 on a Voluntary Marine Beach Litter Monitoring Programme.
OSPAR 2019 agreed to set aside OSPAR Recommendations 2000/1 and 2000/2.
OSPAR 2020 agreed to set aside PARCOM Decision 90/3 and PARCOM Decision 95/1.

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Found 381 Decs, Recs & Ags:

OSPAR Decision 2007/1 to Prohibit the Storage of Carbon Dioxide Streams in the Water Column or on the Sea-bed

Adopted:

2007, Ostend

Reference Number:

OSPAR Decision 2007/1

Type:

Decision

Work Area(s):

Human Activities, Offshore Industry

Language:

English

Decisions, Recommendations & Agreements

OSPAR Decision 2007/1 to Prohibit the Storage of Carbon Dioxide Streams in the Water Column or on the Sea-bed

HARPNUT Guideline 6: Quantification and Reporting of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses from Diffuse Anthropogenic Sources and Natural Background Losses

Memorandum of Understanding between OSPAR and ICES

OSPAR Recommendation 2006/4 amending OSPAR Recommendation 2001/1 for the management of produced water from offshore installations

OSPAR Recommendation 2006/2 Amending OSPAR Recommendation 2003/4 on Controlling the Dispersal of Mercury from Crematoria

OSPAR Decision 2006/1 amending OSPAR Decisions 98/4 and 98/5 (Manufacture of VCM and s-PVC). This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

Guidance on developing an ecologically coherent network of OSPAR Marine Protected Areas

OSPAR Recommendation 2006/3 on Environmental Goals for the Discharge by the Offshore Industry of Chemicals that Are, or Which Contain Substances Identified as Candidates for Substitution

OSPAR Recommendation 2006/1 on Reporting Formats on the Implementation and Effectiveness of OSPAR Measures Relating to the Vinyl Chloride Industry. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

OSPAR Recommendation 2006/5 on a Management Regime for Offshore Cuttings Piles

Agreement on further work on substances of possible concern

Agreement on the Application of the EcoQO System. Update 2007. Measure set aside (see OSPAR 2018)

Harmonised reporting format to compile environmental monitoring data and information related to offshore oil and gas activities

Oil in produced water analysis - Guideline on criteria for alternative method acceptance and general guidelines on sample taking and handling (replaces agreement 2005-16)

Implementation Report for OSPAR Recommendation 2006/3 on Environmental Goals for the Discharge by the Offshore Industry of Chemicals that Are, or Which Contain Substances Identified as Candidates for Substitution

OSPAR Recommendation 2005/2 on Environmental Goals for the Discharge by the Offshore Industry of Chemicals that Are, or Contain Added Substances, Listed in the OSPAR 2004 List of Chemicals for Priority Action

OSPAR Recommendation 2005/1 on Reporting Formats on the Implementation and Effectiveness of OSPAR Measures relating to the Non-Ferrous Metal Industry. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

OSPAR Decision 2005/1 amending OSPAR Decision 2000/2 on a harmonised mandatory control system for the use and reduction of the discharge of offshore chemicals

Agreed Background-Reference Concentrations for Contaminants in Sea Water, Biota and Sediment. This agreement replaces agreement 1997-14. Update 2006. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

Protocols on Methods for the Testing of Chemicals Used in the Offshore Oil Industry - English only. This agreement replaces agreement 1995-7. The agreement was amended by OSPAR 2006

Cut-Off Values for the Selection Criteria of the OSPAR Dynamic Selection and Prioritisation Mechanism for Hazardous Substances. This agreement replaces agreement 2001-1

OSPAR Reference Method of Analysis for the Determination of the Dispersed Oil Content in Produced Water. Amended in 2011 (see OIC 11/13/1, paragraph 2.10)

OSPAR Guidelines for Toxicity Testing of Substances and Preparations Used and Discharged Offshore (this agreement replaces agreement 2002-3)

Baseline figures for Recommendation 2001/1. This measure has been "set aside" - see OSPAR 10/23/1, Annex 5

Agreement for Further Work in Relation to the DYNAMEC Mechanism. This agreement replaces agreement 2002-11

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