Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (2011); Revised Rules of Procedure for the Committee for Environmental Protection (2011); Guidelines for the Submission, Translation and Distribution of Documents for the ATCM and the CEP

The Representatives,

Acknowledging the value of information exchanged in official documents circulated between participants in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) and the Committee on Environmental Protection (“CEP”);
Recalling
· Decision 1 (2008) containing the Revised Rules of Procedure of the ATCM;
· Decision 3 (2009) containing the Guidelines for the Submission and Handling of Documents for the ATCM and the CEP;
· Decision 3 (2010) containing the Revised Rules for Procedure for the CEP;
Considering that the efficiency of meetings could be enhanced by the establishment of a new category of official documents to allow the formal exchange of information that does not require introduction or discussion during meetings;
Considering that timely submission of meeting documents can enhance the effectiveness of the ATCM and CEP by ensuring that the Parties have sufficient time to develop their positions for the meeting;
Considering also that the Consultative Parties should be able to provide accurate, timely, substantial and up-to-date information to international organisations having a scientific or technical interest in Antarctica about their cooperation as well as the achievements and functioning of the Antarctic Treaty System;
Noting the need to update the ATCM and CEP Rules of Procedure and the Guidelines to reflect changes to the submission and handling of official documents;

Decide:
1. that the Revised Rules of Procedure of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (2011) annexed to this Decision (Annex I) shall replace the Revised Rules of Procedure (2008) attached to Decision 1 (2008);
2. that the Revised Rules of Procedure for the Committee for Environmental Protection (2011) annexed to this Decision (Annex II) shall replace the Revised Rules of Procedure for the Committee for Environmental Protection (2010) attached to Decision 3 (2010);
3. that the Guidelines for the Submission, Translation and Distribution of Documents for the ATCM and the CEP appended to Decision 3 (2009) are no longer current; and
4. that Decision 1 (2008) and Decision 3 (2010) are no longer current.