2. The Committee shall meet within 12 months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement. The Committee shall meet periodically thereafter or at the request of any Party. The Committee may also address issues between its meetings by correspondence. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure at its first meeting.

3. Decisions of the Committee shall be reached by consensus.

4. The Committee may, from time to time, establish

ad hoc

scientific and technical expert working groups to make recommendations to the Committee regarding:

(a) any scientific and technical matters;

(b) questions of interpretation as proposed by the Parties; and

5. The Committee may propose to the Parties amendments to this Agreement, taking into account, as appropriate, the relevant recommendations of expert working groups.

Article 15

Settlement of disputes

1. The Parties shall endeavour to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of any matter that may affect the operation of this Agreement through negotiations. Where the Parties concerned are unable to resolve their differences, the Committee shall be convened, at the request of one of the Parties, for discussion and resolution. The Committee, when addressing the issue put to its consideration, may establish, if appropriate, an

ad hoc

scientific and/or technical working group in accordance with Article 14.4 of this Agreement.

2. If the Committee fails to resolve the dispute within 90 days, on the request of the complaining Party an Arbitration Body shall be established pursuant to Annex III.

3. The Arbitration Body may issue rulings in respect of any dispute concerning the interpretation and application by the Party complained against of the Agreement.

4. The Arbitration Body shall not exceed the terms of reference agreed to by the Parties and shall not issue a ruling beyond the scope provided for in this Article.

5. This Article is applicable

mutatis mutandis

to cases where there is more than one complaining or responding Party.

Article 16

Accession

Any country may accede to this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions as may be agreed between such country and the Parties.

Article 17

Final provisions

1. The Annexes are an integral part of this Agreement.

2. This Agreement enters into force 60 days following the date of the deposit of the last instrument of ratification, conclusion or adoption, according to the rules applicable for each Party.

3. This Agreement is not self-executing. Each Party shall implement the commitments and obligations arising from this Agreement in accordance with its internal procedures.

4. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the Committee, or by any Party at any time. Any amendment agreed to by the Parties enters into force on the day following the deposit of the last instrument of ratification, conclusion or adoption of the agreed amendment, according to the rules applicable for each Party.

5. A Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving at least six months' notice in writing. In such an event, the obligations under this Agreement as regards the withdrawing Party shall come to an end on the expiry of the period of notice.