1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

London Convention / London Dumping Convention / LC 1972

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International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Article X:

“In accordance with the principles of international law regarding State responsibility for damage to the Environment of other States or to any other area of the Environment, caused by dumping of wastes and other matter of all kinds, the Contracting Parties undertake to develop procedures for the assessment of liability and the settlement of disputes regarding dumping.”

Article XI:

“The Contracting Parties shall at their first consultative meeting consider procedures for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation and application of this Convention.”

Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (initially the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Annex I

Annex II

Annex III

International Maritime Organization

30/08/1975

Article XIX:

“1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each Contracting Party ratifying or acceding to the Convention after the deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after deposit by such Party of its instrument of ratification or accession.”

1978 Resolution of the Third Consultative Meeting on Settlement of Disputes (Resolution LDC 6(III))

1978 Resolution of the Third Consultative Meeting on Incineration at Sea (Resolution LDC 5(III))

1980 Resolution of the Fifth Consultative Meeting on the Amendment of the Lists of Substances (Resolution LDC 12(V))

1989 Amendment to Annex III to the London Dumping Convention (Resolution LDC.37(12))

1993 Amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 Concerning Phasing out Sea Disposal of Industrial Waste (Resolution LC.49(16))

1993 Amendment to Annex I to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 Concerning Incineration at Sea (Resolution LC.50(16))

1993 Amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 Concerning Phasing Out Sea Disposal of Industrial Wastes (Resolution LC.51(16))

1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

2006 Amendment to include CO2 Sequestration in Sub-Seabed Geological Formations in Annex 1 to the London Protocol

2009 Amendment to Article 6 of the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

2013 Amendment to the the London Protocol to Regulate the Placement of Matter for Ocean Fertilization and other Marine Geoengineering Activities

2022 Amendments to Annexes 1 and 2 of the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

1972 Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft

1978 Protocol Relating to the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (including Annexes, Final Act and 1973 International Convention)

1976 Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution

1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

1986 Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping

2009 Guidelines for the Placement of Artificial Reefs

International Maritime Organization accessed on 18/11/2023

United Nations Treaty Collection accessed on 18/11/2023

The 1972 London Convention was superseded by its 1996 Protocol, between Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol Protocol which are also Parties to the 1972 London Convention.

The MS Word and PDF text provided in this entry are based on  the original text done in 1972. Please refer to the entry 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter for the consolidated text incorporating the 1996 and 2006 amendments.

General status and ASEAN states’ ratification status provided above is with regards to the 1972 London Protocol. For status of the respective amendments, please refer to the IMO status of conventions publication.