Convention on Nuclear Safety

The Convention on Nuclear Safety was adopted in Vienna on 17 June 1994. The Convention was drawn up during a series of expert level meetings from 1992 to 1994 and was the result of considerable work by Governments, national nuclear safety authorities and the Agency's Secretariat. Its aim is 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.

The obligations of the Parties are based to a large extent on the principles contained in the IAEA Safety Fundamentals document "The Safety of Nuclear Installations". These obligations cover for instance, siting, design, construction, operation, the availability of adequate financial and human resources, the assessment and verification of safety, quality assurance and emergency preparedness.

The Convention is an incentive instrument. It is not designed to ensure fulfillment of obligations by Parties through control and sanction but is based on their common interest to achieve higher levels of safety which will be developed and promoted through regular meetings of the Parties. The Convention obliges Parties to submit reports on the implementation of their obligations for "peer review" at meetings of the Parties to be held at the IAEA. This mechanism is the main innovative and dynamic element of the Convention.

Status

The Convention entered into force on 24 October 1996. As of 04 April 2007, there were 65 signatories to the Convention and 61 contracting parties. All countries with operating nuclear power plants are now parties to the Convention.

Review Meetings

The fourth Organizational Meeting was held on 24-26 September 2007, and the fourth Review Meeting was held from 14-25 April 2008. The Deputy Director General addressed opening remarks at the first session held 14 April 2008. National Reports for the fourth Review Meeting have been submitted, and some may be accessed on national sites.

The Organizational Meeting for the third Review Meeting was held from 28 -30 September 2004, and the third Review Meeting was held from 11-22 April 2005. The Deputy Director General addressed concluding remarks at the final session held 22 April 2005.

The Organizational Meeting for the second Review Meeting was held from 25-26 September 2001, and the second Review Meeting was held from 15-26 April 2002. The Director General addressed concluding remarks at the final session held 26 April 2002.

The Organizational Meeting for the first Review Meeting was held from 29-30 September 1998, and the first Review Meeting was held from 12-23 April 1999.

For further information please contact Gerhard Feige