NUCLEAR SAFETY CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE

24 October 1996

Press Release
IAEA/1310

NUCLEAR SAFETY CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE

19961024 VIENNA, 24 October (IAEA) -- The Convention on Nuclear Safety -- the first international legal instrument on the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide -- enters into force today, 24 October 1996. It commits States parties to ensure the safety of land-based civil nuclear power plants. The Convention includes a legislative and regulatory framework; general safety considerations such as quality assurance, assessment, and verification of safety; human factors; radiation protection; emergency preparedness; specific obligations on the safety of nuclear installations; siting; design and construction; and operation. Among its requirements, the Convention obliges parties to submit reports at periodic review meetings. These reports will focus on the measures each States has taken to implement obligations under the Convention.

"The Convention marks a major step forward in strengthening international co-operation in the safety field", said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Hans Blix. "Though the safe use of nuclear energy remains clearly a national responsibility, the Convention signals the growing recognition of the global interdependence of safe nuclear development. We now look forward to finishing work on other legal instruments, notably in the field of radioactive waste management, also being negotiated through the efforts of the Agency and its member States."

Twenty-seven States so far have consented to be bound by the Convention on Nuclear Safety. These are Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The Convention has been signed by 65 States.

Under terms of the Convention, a preparatory meeting of States parties will be convened within the next six months. At that meeting, among other matters, guidelines will be established regarding the form and structure of reports that States are required to submit for review at periodic meetings, and the process for reviewing such reports. The Convention calls for the first review meeting to be convened as soon as possible, but no later than 30 months from today's entry into force.

* *** *

NOTE:The full text of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and its latest status is accessible through the IAEA's World Atom Internet services on the World Wide Web at http:\\www.iaea.org\worldatom.