Section 25: Meaning of “treaty” and “ratification
150.This section defines “ratification” and “treaties”. “Treaty” is defined as being an agreement between states (or between states and international organisations) which is binding under international law. Subsection (2) clarifies that certain instruments made under a treaty are not within the definition given in subsection (1). But amendments to a treaty are within the definition of “treaty”.
151.Subsection (3) provides a definition for “ratification” to include those acts that are considered equivalent to ratification (accession, approval or acceptance, or deposit or delivery of a notification that domestic procedures have been completed) which establish as a matter of international law the consent of the United Kingdom to be bound by the treaty.