III. Confidentiality Section 11 Respect for confidentiality and data protection (1) The members of the Joint Commission and the staff members of the secretariat shall be obliged to maintain silence with regard to confidential information which they receive during their activities. This obligation shall also last beyond the active membership of the Joint Commission. (2) Documents containing personal and confidential data shall be kept securely and not made accessible to third parties. (3) Personal data may only be passed on with the explicit consent of the person in question. Section 12 Amendments and entry into force (1) These rules of procedure shall come into force by resolution of the qualified majority of the statutory number of members of the Joint Commission. (2) Amendments of the rules of procedure shall require a qualified majority of the statutory number of members of the Joint Commission. 131