---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3603"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3603"
heading: "Receipt of Organization communications by Secretary of State"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3603"
units:
  - "Chapter 56 — North Atlantic Salmon Fishing"
---

# §3603. Receipt of Organization communications by Secretary of State

- (a) **Concurrence with Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior on regulatory measures; action on other matters—** The Secretary of State may—
  - (1) receive, on behalf of the United States, reports, requests, recommendations, proposals, and other communications of the [Organization](/usc/16/3601.md?p=7) and its subsidiary organs;
  - (2) with the concurrence of the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, approve, object to, or withdraw objections to regulatory measures proposed in accordance with the [Convention](/usc/16/3601.md?p=4); and
  - (3) act upon, or refer to other appropriate authority, any communication referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection other than a proposed regulatory measure.
- (b) **Submission to President on failure of concurrence on regulatory matters—** If the concurrence required under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) of this section has not been obtained by the Secretary of State—
  - (1) regarding the approval of, or the objection to, a proposed regulatory measure within forty-five days after the measure was received on behalf of the United States; or
  - (2) regarding the withdrawal of an objection of the United States to a proposed regulatory measure within forty-five days after such withdrawal is proposed by the Secretary of State;

  the Secretary of State shall submit the matter in disagreement, together with a statement of the opposing positions, to the President for timely disposition.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–389, title III, § 304, Dec. 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 1952.)