Artikel 13

1. Any Party may propose amendments to the present Protocol.
2. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Secretary of the Commission, who shall communicate them to all Parties. The Parties meeting within the Executive Body shall discuss the proposed amendments at its next session, provided that the proposals have been circulated by the Executive Secretary to the Parties at least ninety days in advance.
3. Amendments to the present Protocol other than to annexes III and VII shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body, and shall enter into force for the Parties which have accepted them on the ninetieth day after the date on which two thirds of those that were Parties at the time of their adoption have deposited with the Depositary their instruments of acceptance thereof. Amendments shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party has deposited its instrument of acceptance thereof.
4. Amendments to annexes III and VII shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body. On the expiry of 180 days from the date of its communication to all Parties by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, an amendment to any such annex shall become effective for those Parties which have not submitted to the Depositary a notification in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 below, provided that at least sixteen Parties have not submitted such a notification.
5. Any Party that is unable to approve an amendment to annex III or VII shall so notify the Depositary in writing within 180 days from the date of the communication of its adoption.
The Depositary shall without delay notify all Parties of any such notification received. A Party may at any time substitute an acceptance for its previous notification and, upon deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Depositary, the amendment to such an annex shall become effective for that Party.
5 bis. For those Parties having accepted it, the procedure set out in paragraph 5 ter supersedes the procedure set out in paragraph 3 in respect of amendments to annexes II, IV, V and VI.
5 ter. Amendments to annexes II, IV, V and VI shall be adopted by consensus of the Parties present at a session of the Executive Body. On the expiry of one year from the date of its communication to all Parties by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, an amendment to any such annex shall become effective for those Parties which have not submitted to the Depositary a notification in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (a):
a) Any Party that is unable to approve an amendment to annexes II, IV, V and VI shall so notify the Depositary in writing within one year from the date of the communication of its adoption. The Depositary shall without delay notify all Parties of any such notification received. A Party may at any time substitute an acceptance for its previous notification and, upon deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Depositary, the amendment to such an annex shall become effective for that Party;
b) Any amendment to annexes II, IV, V and VI shall not enter into force if an aggregate number of 16 or more Parties have either: (i) Submitted a notification in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (a); or
(ii) Not accepted the procedure set out in this paragraph and not yet deposited an instrument of acceptance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.
(i) Submitted a notification in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (a); or
(ii) Not accepted the procedure set out in this paragraph and not yet deposited an instrument of acceptance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3.
6. In the case of a proposal to amend annex I, VI or VII by adding a heavy metal, a product control measure or a product or product group to the present Protocol:
a) The proposer shall provide the Executive Body with the information specified in Executive Body decision 1998/1, including any amendments thereto; and
b) The Parties shall evaluate the proposal in accordance with the procedures set forth in Executive Body decision 1998/1, including any amendments thereto.
7. Any decision to amend Executive Body decision 1998/1 shall be taken by consensus of the Parties meeting within the Executive Body and shall take effect sixty days after the date of adoption.