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8. The increasing recognition through scientific and tech-

nical endeavours, such as the Global Energy and Water

Cycle Experiment (GEWEX), of the importance of

hydrological data and products in improving the

understanding of meteorological processes and subse-

quently the accuracy of meteorological products.

Recognizing:

1. The responsibility of Members and their NHSs to

provide for the security and well-being of the people of

their countries, through mitigation of water-related

hazards and sustainable management of water resources

2. The potential benefits of enhanced exchange of hydro-

logical data and information within shared river basins

and aquifers, based on agreements between the

Members concerned

3. The continuing need for strengthening the capabilities

of NHSs, particularly in developing countries,

4. The right of Governments to choose the manner by

which, and the extent to which, they make hydrologi-

cal data and products available domestically and

internationally

5. The right of Governments also to choose the extent to

which they make available internationally data which

are vital to national defense and security. Nevertheless,

Members shall cooperate in good faith with other

Members with a view to providing as much data as

possible under the circumstances

6. The requirement by some Members that their NHSs

earn revenue from users, and/or adopt commercial

practices in managing their businesses

7. The long-established provision of some hydrological

products and services on a commercial basis and in a

competitive environment, and the impacts, both posi-

tive and negative, associated with such arrangements.

Adopts a stand of committing to broadening and enhancing,

whenever possible, the free and unrestricted

international

exchange

of hydrological data and products, in consonance

with the requirements for WMO’s scientific and technical

programmes;

Further adopts the following practice on the international

exchange of hydrological information:

1. Members shall provide on a free and unrestricted basis

those hydrological data and products which are neces-

sary for the provision of services in support of the

protection of life and property and for the well-being of

all peoples

2. Members should also provide additional hydrological data

and products, where available, which are required to

sustain programmes and projects of WMO, other United

Nations agencies, ICSU and other organizations of equiv-

alent status, related to operational hydrology and water

resources research at the global, regional and national

levels and, furthermore, to assist other Members in the

provision of hydrological services in their countries

3. Members should provide to the research and educa-

tion communities, for their non-commercial activities,

free and unrestricted access to all hydrological data

and products exchanged under the auspices of WMO

4. Respecting (2) and (3) above, Members may place

conditions on the re-export3, for commercial purposes,

of these hydrological data and products, outside the

receiving country or group of countries forming a single

economic group

5. Members should make known to all Members, through

the WMO Secretariat, those hydrological data and

products which have such conditions as in (4) above;

6. Members should make their best efforts to ensure that

the conditions placed by the originator on the addi-

tional hydrological data and products are made known

to initial and subsequent recipients

7. Members shall ensure that the exchange of hydrolog-

ical data and products under this resolution is

consistent with the application of Resolution 40 (Cg-

XII) — WMO policy and practice for the exchange of

meteorological and related data and products includ-

ing guidelines on relationships in commercial

meteorological activities.

Urges Members, in respect of the operational and scientific

use of hydrological data and products, to:

1. Make their best efforts to implement the practice on

the international exchange of hydrological data and

products, as described in Further adopts (1) to (7)

2. Assist other Members, to the extent possible, and as

agreed upon, in developing their capacity to implement

the practice described in Further adopts (1) to (7).

Requests the Executive Council to:

1. Invite the Commission for Hydrology to provide advice

and assistance on technical aspects of the implemen-

tation of the practice on the international exchange of

hydrological data and products

2. Keep the implementation of this resolution under

review and report to Fourteenth Congress.

Decides to review the implementation of this resolution at

Fourteenth Congress.