The entry into force of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) was a key step in preventing nuclear terrorism, but much work remains, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Sunday.
The update took effect Sunday, a month after the necessary two-thirds of the 152 CPPNM member nations ratified the amendment, which expands to mandate to secure nuclear material in international transport to cover material in domestic use, transport, and storage. The amended convention also covers additional offenses, including smuggling of nuclear material and sabotage or threatened sabotage of atomic facilities, as well as augmenting collaboration between governments to recover trafficked material or respond to an act of sabotage.
In a statement issued Friday, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano called on the final 50 CPPNM member nations to ratify the amendment. Implementing the new rules will also be crucial, according to the U.N. agency, which pledged to offer legislative and technical aid to nations in this effort.
“Working closely with national experts and key international partners, the Agency will continue to deliver tangible improvements in nuclear security in the years ahead,” Amano said.
Nations such as Spain have already taken legislative and operational steps to enact the new mandates, but the global alert and collaboration rules only become “fully operational” with the amendment’s entry into force, the IAEA said. To assist in this area, the agency has scheduled a Meeting of Points of Contact and Central and Competent Authorities of States Parties to the CPPNM and the CPPNM Amendment ahead of the Dec. 5-9 IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security.
