August 16, 2004
The Ministry of the Environment promulgates a ministerial ordinance partially amending the enforcement regulation for the Law Relating to Protection of the Environment in Antarctica on August 16, 2004. This amendment was made to cope with and to ensure the implementation in Japan, of the Measures 1 - 3 (2004) amending the regulation related to the environmental protection in Antarctica, which was adopted in the 27th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in May 2004. This amendment will enter into force on September 16, 2004.
The international obligation is provided by the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (ratified in 1997, hereinafter referred to as the "Protocol") for the environmental protection in Antarctica. The obligation is fulfilled in Japan by the Law Relating to the Protection of the Environment in Antarctica (Law No.61, 1997, hereinafter referred to as the "Law").
The Annex V of the Protocol stipulating the protection and the management of Antarctica, designates those areas having outstanding environmental values as Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (hereinafter referred to as the "ASPAs") and ensures to the formulation of necessary management plan for those areas. In addition, sites or monuments having historical value are designated as Antarctic Historical Sites and Monuments (hereinafter referred to as the "HSMs"). In Japan, the practical implementation of these stipulations is provided in the Enforcement Regulation for the Law Relating to Protection of the Environment in Antarctica (hereinafter referred to as the "Enforcement Regulation").
The 27th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting held from May 24 to June 4, 2004, in Cape Town, South Africa adopted Measures concerning new designation of ASPA (1 area), amendment of management plan of ASPA (4), cancellation (2) and addition (2) of HSMs.
Prior to the amendments, the Enforcement Regulation provided designation of 61 ASPAs, requirements for 49 areas out of 61, and 73 HSMs. To reflect the Measures adopted in the Consultative Meeting, following amendments were made.
| - | Designating ASPA: ASPA 62 |
| - | Changing the scope of designation: ASPA 13 |
| - | Providing requirements: ASPAs 13, 22 and 39 |
| - | Deleting requirements: HSMs 12 and 13 |
| - | Designating HSM: HMS 77 |