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Becoming a Party

Procedures for deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance,approval or accession with the Depositary

According to Article 41 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Secretary General of the United Nations shall assume the functions of Depositary of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

To deposit the instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary, the following steps need to be taken:
  1. Prepare instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval in accordance with annex I, or instrument of accession in accordance with annex II;
  2. Deliver the instrument by hand, mail or fax to the Treaty Section of the United Nations, preferably including translation into English or French, where appropriate.

    The contact information for the Treaty Section is as follows:

    Treaty Section, Office of legal Affairs, United Nations
    New York, NY 10017, USA
    Tel: 1-212 963 5047, Fax: 1-212-963-3693
    Email: treaty@un.org, treatyRegistration@un.org

  3. If the instrument is faxed to the Treaty Section, deliver the original instrument to the Treaty Section as soon as possible thereafter.

For more information see the FAQs on Becoming a Party

Annex I

MODEL INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE OR APPROVAL
 
(To be signed by the Head of State, Head of Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs)
 
[RATIFICATION / ACCEPTANCE / APPROVAL]
 
WHEREAS the [title of treaty, convention, agreement, etc.] was [concluded,adopted, opened for signature, etc.] at [place] on [date],
 
AND WHEREAS the said [treaty, convention, agreement, etc.] has been signed on behalf of the Government of [name of State] on [date],
 
NOW THEREFORE I, [name and title of the Head of State, Head of Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs] declare that the Government of [name of State], having considered the above mentioned [treaty, convention, agreement, etc.], [ratifies, accepts, approves] the same and undertakes faithfully to perform and carry out the stipulations therein contained.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this instrument of [ratification, acceptance, approval] at [place] on [date].
 
[Signature]

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Annex II

MODEL INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION
 
(To be signed by the Head of State, Head of Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs)
 
ACCESSION
 
WHEREAS the [ title of treaty, convention, agreement, etc.] was [ concluded, adopted, opened for signature, etc.] at [ place] on [ date],
 
NOW THEREFORE I, [ name and title of the Head of State, Head of Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs] declare that the Government of [ name of State], having considered the above mentioned [ treaty, convention, agreement, etc.], accedes to the same and undertakes faithfully to perform and carry out the stipulations therein contained.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this instrument of accession at [ place] on [ date].
 
[Signature]

   
   

Further resources on this issue:

  Treaty Handbook

PDF   Treaty Handbook, prepared by the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs
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PDF   Model instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession (Annexes 4 and 5 of the Treaty Handbook)
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Fr | Ru | Zh