7 OCTOBER 2002. - An Act to Enact the Protocol to Amend the European Convention on the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental or Other Scientific Purposes, done in Strasbourg on 22 June 1998 (1)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 77 of the Constitution.
Art. 2. The Protocol to Amend the European Convention on the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental or Other Scientific Purposes, done at Strasbourg on 22 June 1998, will come out its full and complete effect.
Amendments to Annexes A and B of the European Convention, which are adopted and come into force pursuant to Article 31 of the Convention, will come out their full and full effect.
Art. 3. Any amendment to Annexes A and B approved under Article 31 of the Convention shall be communicated to the Legislative Chambers within three months of its adoption.
Promulgation of this law, let us order that it be clothed with the seal of the State and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given in Brussels on 7 October 2002.
ALBERT
By the King:
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
L. MICHEL
Minister of Justice,
Mr. VERWILGHEN
Minister of Consumer Protection,
Public Health and the Environment,
J. TAVERNIER
Seal of the state seal:
Minister of Justice,
Mr. VERWILGHEN
____
Notes
(1) Session 2001-2002.
Senate.
Documents. - Bill tabled on 22 May 2002, No. 2-1161/1. Report on behalf of the Commission, 2-1161/2.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion, meeting of 10 July 2002. - Vote, meeting of 10 July 2002.
Room.
Documents. - Project transmitted by the Senate, No. 50-1935/1. - Text adopted in plenary and subject to Royal Assent, No. 50-1935/2.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion, meeting of 20 July 2002. - Vote, meeting of 20 July 2002.

PROTOCOL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF ANIMAL VERTILITIES OF EXPERIMENTAL FINS OR OTHER SCIENTIFIC FINS
The States members of the Council of Europe and the European Community, signatories to this Protocol to the European Convention on the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for experimental purposes or for other scientific purposes, open for signature in Strasbourg on 18 March 1986 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Considering the Convention, which contains general provisions to prevent suffering, pain and anguish to animals used for experimental purposes, and the determination of Member States to limit the use of animals for experimental or other scientific purposes, with the aim of replacing this use wherever possible, including by seeking alternative methods and encouraging the use of these alternatives;
Considering the technical nature of the provisions contained in the annexes to the Convention;
Acknowledging the need to guarantee the adequacy of the latter with the results of the research in the areas they cover,
The following agreed:
Article 1^er
Article 30 of the Convention is amended as follows:
“1. The Parties shall, within five years after the entry into force of this Convention and thereafter every five years, or more often if the majority of the Parties so requests, conduct multilateral consultations within the Council of Europe, with a view to examining the application of this Convention and the opportunity for its revision or expansion of some of its provisions.
2. These consultations take place during meetings convened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Parties shall communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, at least two months before the meeting, the name of their representative.
3. Subject to the provisions of this Convention, Parties shall establish rules of procedure for consultations. »
Article 2
The Convention is supplemented by a new Title XI: “Amendments” including the following new article 31:
“1. Any amendment to Annexes A and B, proposed by a Party or by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, shall be communicated to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and transmitted through his care to the States members of the Council of Europe, the European Community and to each non-member State that has acceded or has been invited to accede to the Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 34.
2. Any amendment proposed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be considered, at least six months after the date of transmission by the Secretary-General, at a multilateral consultation in which the amendment may be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Parties. The text adopted is communicated to the Parties.
3. Upon the expiration of a period of twelve months after its adoption at a multilateral consultation, any amendment shall enter into force unless one third of the Parties has notified objections. »
Article 3
Articles 31 to 37 of the Convention become articles 32 to 38.
Article 4
1. This Protocol shall be open for signature by the Signatories of the Convention, which may become Parties to this Protocol by:
(a) signature without reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval; or
(b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
2. A Signator of the Convention shall not sign this Protocol without reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval, or deposit an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if it has not already deposited or if it does not simultaneously deposit an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of the Convention.
3. States that have acceded to the Convention may also accede to the present Protocol.
4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 5
This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which all Parties to the Convention become Parties to the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.
Article 6
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the States members of the Council of Europe, the other Parties to the Convention and the European Community:
(a) any signature without reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval;
(b) any signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval;
(c) the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession;
(d) any effective date of this Protocol in accordance with Article 5;
(e) any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.
In faith, the undersigned, duly authorized to do so, have signed this Protocol.
Done in Strasbourg, on 22 June 1998, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which will be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to the member States of the Council of Europe, to the other Parties to the Convention and to the European Community.

PROTOCOL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF ANIMAL VERTILITIES OF EXPERIMENTAL FINS OR OTHER SCIENTIFIC FINS, AT STRASBOURG ON 22 JUNE 1998
LIST OF LIES
For the consultation of the table, see image
The Protocol has not yet entered into force.