Conventions and Codes
Safety and Security Conventions and Codes
The global safety regime promoted by the IAEA relies in part on various inter-governmental legal instruments. These legal instruments, designed to promote high level safety and security worldwide, are different in nature. They include Conventions - which are legally-binding, to Codes of Conduct, which are non-legally binding, as well as Treaties and Agreements.
Conventions
Since 1986 five conventions were ratified in the areas of Nuclear, Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety:
- Convention on Nuclear Safety to legally commit participating States operating land-based nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by setting international benchmarks to which States would subscribe
- Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident or Radiolocial Emergency - establishes a notification system for nuclear accidents that have the potential for international transboundary release that could be of radiological safety significance for another State
- Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency - sets out an international framework for co-operation among Parties and with the IAEA to facilitate prompt assistance and support in the event of nuclear accidents or radiological emergencies
- Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management - is the first legally binding international treaty on safety in these areas. It represents a commitment by participating States to achieve and maintain a consistently high level of safety in the management of spent fuel and of radioactive waste as part of the global safety regime for ensuring the proper protection of people and the environment
- Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material obliges Contracting States to ensure during international nuclear transport the protection of nuclear material within their territory or on board their ships or aircraft
Codes of Conduct
- Code of Conduct of the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, through its implementation, will help national authorities ensure that radioactive sources are used within an appropriate framework of radiation safety and security
- Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors strengthens the international nuclear safety arrangements for civil research reactors, taking due account of input from the International Safety Advisory Group (INSAG) and the views of other relevant bodies