Table: Status of Ratification

Information provided by the Depositary, the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, New York as of 29.3.2006.

Notes

R: Ratification Ac: Accession At: Acceptance Ap: Approval Sc: Succession

* Entry into force is after ninety days following the date of ratification/accession/acceptance/approval for new Parties after the treaty enters into force.

Vienna Convention (22.9.1988);
Montreal Protocol (1.1.1989);
London Amendment (10.8.1992);
Copenhagen Amendment (14.6.1994);
Montreal Amendment (10.11.1999);
Beijing Amendment (25.2.2002).

1. Argentina

The Argentine Republic rejects the ratification on 15 May 1987 of the "Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer" by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, communicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Note C.N.112.1987.TREATIES-1 (Depositary Notification), in respect of the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and reaffirms its sovereignty over the said islands, which form an integral part of its national territory.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted resolutions 2065 (XX), 3160 (XXVIII), 31/49, 37/9, 38/12 and 39/6, which recognize the existence of a sovereignty dispute relating to the question of the Malvinas Islands and request the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations in order to find as soon as possible a peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute and their remaining differences relating to the question, with the intercession of the good offices of the Secretary-General, who is to report to the General Assembly on the progress made. The United Nations General Assembly has also adopted resolutions 40/21 and 41/40, which again request both parties to resume negotiations.

The Argentine Republic also rejects the ratification of the Convention by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of what is termed by the United Kingdom the "British Antarctic Territory" and reaffirms its legitimate rights of territorial sovereignty over the Argentine Antarctic Sector, comprising the territory between 25° and 74° West Longitude and 60° South Latitude and the South Pole, and its coastal jurisdiction in the Antarctic under international law. Those rights, which are based on historical and geographical titles, are safeguarded by Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty.

2. Bahrain

Upon accession, the Government of Bahrain declared that the accession shall in no way constitute recognition of Israel or be a cause for the establishment of any relations of any kind therewith. A similar declaration was made in respect of the Montreal Protocol and the London Amendment.

3. Chile

Upon ratification, the Government of Chile made the following declaration:

The Government of the Republic of Chile, upon depositing the instrument of ratification of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, and in so doing, states that it rejects the declarations made by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland upon ratification of the Convention and by the Argentine Republic in objecting to that declaration, inasmuch as both declarations affect corresponding maritime jurisdictions. It once again reaffirms its sovereignty over that territory, including its sovereignty over maritime spaces, in accordance with the definition established by Supreme Decree 1, 747, of 6 November 1940. A similar declaration was made in respect of the Montreal Protocol.

4. China

(a) On 6 June 1997, the Government of China notified the United Nations Secretary-General of the following:

In accordance with the Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the question of Hong Kong signed on 19 December 1984, the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997. Hong Kong will, with effect from that date, become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs which are the responsibility of the central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.

The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, to which the Government of the People's Republic of China acceded on 11 September 1989 as well as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol will apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with effect from 1 July 1997.

The Government of the People's Republic of China also makes the following declaration:

Provisions of article 5 of the Montreal Protocol will not be applied to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government of the People's Republic of China will assume responsibility for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Convention, the Protocol and the Amendment to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

(b) On 19 October 1999, the Government of China notified the United Nations Secretary General of the following: In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macao (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Declaration), the Government of the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao with effect from 20 December 1999. Macao will, from that date, become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.

In this connection, The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer, which the Government of the People's Republic of China deposited the instrument of accession on 11 September 1989, as well as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer of 16 September 1987 and the Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer of 29 June 1990 (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention, the Protocol and the Amendment"), will apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region with effect from 20 December 1999. The Government of the People's Republic of China also wishes to make the following declaration:

Provisions of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer of 16 September 1987 will not be applied to the Macao Special Administrative Region, and provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer of 29 June 1990 will not be applied to the Macao Special Administrative Region.

(c) On 22 April 2003, the Government of China communicated the following information to the United Nations Secretary General:

In accordance with the provision of article 138 of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China of 1993, the Government of the People's Republic of China decides that the Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted in Copenhagen on 25 November 1992 shall apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

The Government of the People's Republic of China also decides that the above-mentioned Amendment will continue to be implemented in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

(d) Upon accession, the Government of China made the following declaration: The Government of the People's Republic of China would like to restate that the provision of article 5 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer of 16 September 1987 and the provision of paragraph 1, article 5 of the Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer adopted in London on 29 June 1990 will not apply to the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

5. Denmark

(a) In a letter dated 18 December 1991 to the Depositary, Denmark expressed reservation on the application of the Montreal Protocol to the Faroe Islands. In the same letter, Denmark lifted the earlier reservation on the application of the Protocol to Greenland.

(b) On 12 February 1997, Denmark notified the Depositary to the effect that the reservation for the application of the above Protocol to the Faroe Islands is lifted.

(c) On 24 September 2003 Denmark notified the Depositary to the effect that acceptance of the Montreal and Beijing Amendments excludes Faeroe Islands.

6. Germany

UNEP received a note verbale on 1 October 1990, from the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to UNEP to the effect that through the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany with effect from 3 October 1990, the two German States have united to form one sovereign state. As from the date of unification, the Federal Republic of Germany will act in the UN under the designation of Germany. The applicable dates of ratification and entry into force are those of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German Democratic Republic had acceded to the Convention on 25 January 1989. A similar note verbale was received by UNEP in respect of the Montreal Protocol.

7. Israel

On 18 July 1990, the following objection was received by the Depositary from the Government of Israel:

"The Government of the State of Israel has noted that the instrument of accession of Bahrain to the above-mentioned Convention and Protocol contains a declaration in respect of Israel. In view of the Government of the State of Israel such declaration, which is explicitly of a political character, is incompatible with the purposes and objectives of the Convention and Protocol and cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon Bahrain under general international law or under particular conventions. The Government of the State of Israel will, in so far as concerns the substance of the matter, adopt towards Bahrain an attitude of complete reciprocity."

8. Mauritius

Upon accession the Government of Mauritius made the following declaration:

"The Republic of Mauritius rejects the ratification of 15 May 1987 of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, communicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Note C.N. 112.1987 TREATIES (Depositary Notification) in respect of the British Indian Ocean Territory namely Chagos Archipelago, and reaffirms its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago which form an integral part of its national territory."

A similar declaration was made in respect of the Montreal Protocol.

9. Netherlands

For the Kingdom in Europe, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

10. New Zealand

(a) The instrument of ratification indicates that in accordance with the special relationship which exists between New Zealand and the Cook Islands and between New Zealand and Niue, there have been consultations regarding the Convention between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Cook Islands and between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Niue, that the Government of the Cook Islands, which has exclusive competence to implement treaties in the Cook Islands, has requested that the Convention should extend to the Cook Islands, that the Government of Niue which has exclusive competence to implement treaties in Niue, has requested that the Convention should extend to Niue. The said instrument specifies that accordingly the Convention shall apply also to the Cook Islands and Niue. However, the Montreal Protocol shall not apply to the Cook Islands and Niue while the Copenhagen Ammendment is applicable only to New Zealand and Tokelau

(b) The Secretary General, in a communication dated 11 June 2001 notified that New Zealand's ratification of the Beijing Amendment shall have territorial application in respect of Tokelau.

(c) With a terrirorial application in respect of Tokelau

(d) On 17 March 2004 the Government of New Zealand communicated the following to the Secretary General of the united Nations, in his capacity as depositary, in respect of Cook Islands regarding accession to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer:

the Government of New Zealand ratified the Convention on 2 June 1987; the Government of New Zealand declared, on ratification, that its ratification extended to the Cook Islands;

the Cook Islands is a self-governing State in a relationship of free association with New Zealand, and possesses in its own right the capacity to enter into treaties and other international agreements with governments and regional and international organisations;

the Government of the Cook Islands acceded to the Convention in its own right on 22 December 2003;

the Government of New Zealand declares that, by reason of the accession to the Convention by the Government of the Cook Islands, it regards the Government of Cook Islands as having succeeded to the obligations under the Convention of the Government of New Zealand in respect of the Cook Island;

further declares that, accordingly, as from the date of the accession to the Convention by the Government of the Cook Islands, the Government of New Zealand ceased to have State responsibility for the observance of the obligations under the Convention in respect of the Cook Islands.

(e) On 17 March 2004 the Government of New Zealand communicated the following to the Secretary General of the united Nations, in his capacity as depositary, in respect of Niue regarding accession to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer:

the Government of New Zealand ratified the Convention on 2 June 1987; the Government of New Zealand declared, on ratification, that its ratification extended to Niue; Niue is a self-governing State in a relationship of free association with New Zealand, and possesses in its own right the capacity to enter into treaties and other international agreements with governments and regional and international organisations;

the Government of Niue acceded to the Convention in its own right on 22 December 2003; the Government of New Zealand declares that, by reason of the accession to the Convention by the Government of Niue, it regards the Government of Niue as having succeeded to the obligations under the Convention of the Government of New Zealand in respect of Niue;

further declares that, accordingly, as from the date of the accession to the Convention by the Government of Niue, the Government of New Zealand ceased to have State responsibility for the observance of the obligations under the Convention in respect of the territory of Niue.

11. Portugal

(a) On 15 February 1994, the UN Secretary-General received from the Government of Portugal the notification of application of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol and the London Ammendment to Macau.

(b) On 21 October 1999 the Government of Portugal notified the United Nations Secretary-General of the following:

In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the Portuguese Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Macau signed on 13 April 1987, the Portuguese Republic will continue to have international responsibility for Macau until 19 December 1999 and from that date onwards the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau with effect from 20 December 1999.

From 20 December 1999 onwards the Portuguese Republic will cease to be responsible for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol to Macau.

12. Russian Federation

UNEP received a note on 31 December 1991, from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to UNEP to the effect that the Russian Federation continues the membership of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in all conventions, agreements and other international legal instruments concluded in its framework or under its auspices. A similar note was received in respect of the Montreal Protocol.

13. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

(a) The instrument of ratification specifies that the Convention is ratified in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Monserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Saint Helena, Saint Helena Dependencies, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United Kingdom Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus. A similar application was expressed in respect of the Montreal Protocol but without extending it to the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekalia. The United Kingdom's ratification of the London Amendment was extended to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, the British Antarctic Territory, the British Virgin Islands, and Gibraltar. The Copenhagen Amendment was extended to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the British Virgin Islands. No extensions have been made in respect of the Montreal or Beijing Amendment. On 6 July 1990, the Secretary-General received from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the following objection concerning the reservations made by Argentina: The instrument contained a reservation rejecting the ratification of the Convention by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wishes to state that they have no doubt as to British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory, and their consequent right to extend treaties to those territories. In respect of the British Antarctic Territory, the Government of the United Kingdom would draw attention to the provisions of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty of 1 December 1959, to which both Argentina and the United Kingdom are parties. For the above reasons the Government of the United Kingdom rejects the Argentine reservation.

On 2 August 1990, the following objection was received by the Depositary from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have no doubt as to British Sovereignty over the British Antarctic Territory. In this respect, the Government of the United Kingdom would draw attention to the provisions of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty of 1 December 1959 to which both Chile and the United Kingdom are parties. For the above reasons, the Government of the United Kingdom rejects the Chile declaration."

On 27 January 1993, the UN Secretary-General received from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the following communication with respect to the declarations made by Mauritius upon the latterÆs accession to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer:

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have no doubt as to British sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory and their consequent right to extend the application of the above Convention and Protocol to it. Accordingly the Government of the United Kingdom do not accept or regard as having any legal effect the declarations made by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius."

(b) On 10 June 1997, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notified the United Nations Secretary-General of the following:

In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the question of Hong Kong signed on 19 December 1984, the Government of the United Kingdom will restore Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China with effect from 1 July 1997. The Government of the United Kingdom will continue to have international responsibility for Hong Kong until that date. Therefore, from that date the Government of the United Kingdom will cease to be responsible for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Vienna Convention, Montreal Protocol and the Amendment to Hong Kong.

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Countries that have not yet ratified the Ozone Treaties

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