European Community ratifies the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs

The European Community has become the second Signatory to ratify the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers to the Aarhus Convention, having deposited its instrument of approval with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 21 February.

Pollutant release and transfer registers are inventories of pollutants from industrial sites and other sources. In countries that ratify the Protocol, facilities will be required to report annually on the amounts of certain pollutants they release to the environment or transfer to other facilities. The European Communty's ratification will contribute to development of an integrated European Union-wide register.  Applying the new information, public pressure and industry self-awareness are expected to drive down the production and release of pollutants in future.

Thirty-six governments, including 23 from the European Union, and the European Community signed the Protocol in May 2003 in Kiev.  The Protocol will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the sixteenth instrument of ratification by a member State of the United Nations, under article 27 of the Protocol.  Although the European Community’s ratification does not count toward this goal, it is expected to spur ratification of the instrument among its 25 members.

The following Depositary Notification has been issued:

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