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The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention) was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1998. Its purpose was to merge and modernize the Oslo and Paris Conventions to include several new principles of conservation, including the 'precautionary principle'; the 'polluter pays principle'; best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practice (BEP), including clean technology. The 1992 Convention included a series of Annexes dealing with the prevention and elimination of pollution from land-based sources, by dumping or incineration and from offshore sources; and with assessment of the quality of the marine environment. In 1998 the first Ministerial Meeting of the OSPAR Commission adopted a new annex concerning the protection and conservation of the region's ecosystems and biological diversity, and adopted a number of strategies aimed at guiding future work of the Commission. These strategies deal with hazardous substances, radioactive substances, eutrophication and conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity. New rules governing the participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Commission were also adopted. In 1999 the Commission adopted a strategy on environmental goals and management mechanisms for offshore activities. Alan Simcock is Executive Secretary, OSPAR Commission
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