This Order designates France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, the United States of America and Italy as reciprocating countries for the purposes of the Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981. The effect of the designation is that the Secretary of State will refrain from granting a licence for deep sea mining operations over areas already subject to a licence or other authorisation by any of those countries.
This Order supersedes a previous Order (the Deep Sea Mining (Reciprocating Countries) Order 1984) in respect of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan and the United States of America.