1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol / Madrid Protocol

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Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (ATS)

The Committee for Environmental Protection (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings)

Article 18 ‘Dispute Settlement’:

“If a dispute arises concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol, the parties to the dispute shall, at the request of any one of them, consult among themselves as soon as possible with a view to having the dispute resolved by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement or other peaceful means to which the parties to the dispute agree.”

Article 19 ‘Choice of Dispute Settlement Procedure’:

“1. Each Party, when signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol, or at any time thereafter, may choose, by written declaration, one or both of the following means for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of Articles 7, 8 and 15 and, except to the extent that an Annex provides otherwise, the provisions of any Annex and, insofar as it relates to these Articles and provisions, Article 13:

(a) the International Court of Justice;

(b) the Arbitral Tribunal.

2. A declaration made under paragraph 1 above shall not affect the operation of Article 18 and Article 20 (2).

3. A Party which has not made a declaration under paragraph 1 above or in respect of which a declaration is no longer in force shall be deemed to have accepted the competence of the Arbitral Tribunal.

4. If the parties to a dispute have accepted the same means for the settlement of a dispute, the dispute may be submitted only to that procedure, unless the parties otherwise agree.

5. If the parties to a dispute have not accepted the same means for the settlement of a dispute, or if they have both accepted both means, the dispute may be submitted only to the Arbitral Tribunal, unless the parties otherwise agree.

6. A declaration made under paragraph 1 above shall remain in force until it expires in accordance with its terms or until three months after written notice of revocation has been deposited with the Depositary.

7. A new declaration, a notice of revocation or the expiry of a declaration shall not in any way affect proceedings pending before the International Court of Justice or the Arbitral Tribunal, unless the parties to the dispute otherwise agree.

8. Declarations and notices referred to in this Article shall be deposited with the Depositary who shall transmit copies thereof to all Parties.”

Article 20 ‘Dispute Settlement Procedure’:

“1. If the parties to a dispute concerning the interpretation or application of Articles 7, 8 or 15 or, except to the extent that an Annex provides otherwise, the provisions of any Annex or, insofar as it relates to these Articles and provisions, Article 13, have not agreed on a means for resolving it within 12 months of the request for consultation pursuant to Article 18, the dispute shall be referred, at the request of any party to the dispute, for settlement in accordance with the procedure determined by Article 19 (4) and (5).

2. The Arbitral Tribunal shall not be competent to decide or rule upon any matter within the scope of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty. In addition, nothing in this Protocol shall be interpreted as conferring competence or jurisdiction on the International Court of Justice or any other tribunal established for the purpose of settling disputes between Parties to decide or otherwise rule upon any matter within the scope of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty.”

Government of the United States of America

Schedule to the Protocol – Arbitration

Annex I: Environmental Impact Assessment

Annex II: Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (See Additional Information below re Amendments)

Annex III: Waste Disposal and Waste Management

Annex IV: Prevention of Marine Pollution

Annex V: Area Protection and Management 

Annex VI: Liability Arising from Environmental Emergencies

14/01/1998

Article 23 ‘Entry into Force’:

“1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by all States which are Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties at the date on which this Protocol is adopted.

2. For each Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty which, subsequent to the date of entry into force of this Protocol, deposits an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following such deposit.”

1959 Antarctic Treaty

1964 Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora

1988 Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities

1972 Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

1978 Protocol Relating to the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

1980 Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (ATS) accessed on 15/05/2025

Note Article 4 ‘Relationship with Other Components of the Antarctic Treaty System’:

“1. This Protocol shall supplement the Antarctic Treaty and shall neither modify nor amend that Treaty.

2. Nothing in this Protocol shall derogate from the rights and obligations of the Parties to this Protocol under the other international instruments in force within the Antarctic Treaty system.”

Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty: Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora was amended in 2009, and the amendments entered into force on 8 December 2016. The document attached in this entry contains the 1991 text of Annex II. For the amended text please visit https://www.ats.aq/devAS/Meetings/Measure/433