Education, research and culture

Executive Order 12894: North Pacific Marine Science Organization

President: Bill Clinton

Designated the North Pacific Marine Science Organization, known as PICES, for statutory privileges and immunities in the United States; the organization remains active.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 12894 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 12894 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 12894 do?

EO 12894 designated the North Pacific Marine Science Organization as a public international organization under the International Organizations Immunities Act. That designation gives the organization the Act’s federal privileges, exemptions and immunities in the United States; it does not define the organization’s scientific program. PICES remains active, coordinating North Pacific marine research among Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States.

Administration position: The order supported United States participation in a standing scientific organization. It did not make PICES research findings binding on domestic regulators.
SignedJanuary 26, 1994
OrganizationNorth Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)
Legal mechanismInternational Organizations Immunities Act designation

Before and after

Before the order

PICES had operated since 1992, but lacked this presidential designation under the Immunities Act.

After the order

PICES could receive the Act’s specified privileges, exemptions and immunities while continuing its intergovernmental research work.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
PresidentDesignate PICES as a public international organizationEffective on signing
Federal authoritiesRecognize the statutory privileges and immunities attached to the designationFor covered United States matters

What happened next

EO 12894 made the Immunities Act designation.

PICES described itself as an active six-member intergovernmental organization.