The Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission was approved by the FAO Council at its Hundred and fifth Session (November 1993) by Resolution No. 1/105.
Pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article IV of the Agreement, membership in the Commission is open to Members and Associate Members of FAO (a) that are: (i) coastal States or Associate Members situated wholly or partly within the Area; (ii) States or Associate Members whose vessels engage in fishing in the Area for stocks covered by this Agreement; or (iii) regional economic integration organizations of which any State referred to in subparagraphs (i) or (ii) above is a member and to which that State has transferred competence over matters within the purview of this Agreement; and (b) that accept this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article XVII.
In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article IV of the Agreement, the Commission may, by a two-thirds majority of its Members, admit to membership any other States that are not Members of FAO, but are Members of the United Nations or of any of its Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, provided that such States (a) are (i) coastal States situated wholly or partly within the Area; or (ii) States whose vessels engage in fishing in the Area for stocks covered by this Agreement; and (b) have submitted an application for membership and a declaration made in a formal instrument that they accept this Agreement as in force at the time of acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article XVII.
In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article XVII of the Agreement, acceptance of the Agreement by any Member or Associate Member of FAO shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of acceptance with the Director-General.
As provided for in Article XVIII, the Agreement entered into force on 27 March 1996, date of deposit of the tenth instrument of acceptance. The Agreement was registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations on 3 June 1996.
Parties to the Agreement
The following participants deposited their instruments of acceptance on the corresponding date indicated:
| Participant |
Acceptance |
| Australia |
13 Nov 1996 |
Belize |
16 May 2007 |
| China |
14 Oct 1998 |
| Comoros |
14 Aug 2001 |
| Eritrea |
9 Aug 1994 |
| European Community |
27 Oct 1995 |
| France |
3 Dec 1996 |
| Guinea |
31 Jan 2005 |
| India |
13 Mar 1995 |
Indonesia |
20 June 2007 |
| Iran, (Islamic Republic of) |
28 Jan 2002 |
| Japan |
26 Jun 1996 |
| Kenya |
29 Sep 2004 |
| Korea, Republic of |
27 Mar 1996 |
| Madagascar |
10 Jan 1996 |
| Malaysia |
22 May 1998 |
| Mauritius |
27 Dec 1994 |
| Oman |
5 April 2000 |
| Pakistan |
27 Apr 1995 |
| Philippines |
9 Jan 2004 |
| Seychelles |
26 Jul 1995 |
| Sierra Leone |
1st July 2008 |
| Sri Lanka |
13 Jun 1994 |
| Sudan |
3 Dec 1996 |
Tanzania (United Republic of) |
18 April 2007 |
| Thailand |
17 Mar 1997 |
| United Kingdom |
31 Mar 1995 |
| Vanuatu | 25 Oct 2002 |