IAEA Additional Protocol
by Duyeon Kim [contact information]
Click here for the full text of the Additional Protocol
The IAEA Board of Governors approved the Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreements (INFCIRC/540), or "Additional Protocol," on May 15, 1997.
What is the Additional Protocol to safeguards agreements?
The Additional Protocol is a legal document granting the IAEA complementary inspection authority to that provided in underlying safeguards agreements. A principal aim is to enable the IAEA inspectorate to provide assurance about both declared and possible undeclared activities. Under the Protocol, the IAEA is granted expanded rights of access to information and sites. An overview of the strengthened safeguards measures under Additional Protocols and comprehensive safeguards agreements follows:
Measures under Additional Protocols
- State provision of information about, and IAEA inspector access to, all parts of a State's nuclear fuel cycle - including uranium mines, fuel fabrication and enrichment plants, and nuclear waste sites - as well as to any other location where nuclear material is or may be present.
- State provision of information on, and IAEA short-notice access to, all buildings on a nuclear site. (The Protocol provides for IAEA inspectors to have "complementary" access to assure the absence of undeclared nuclear material or to resolve questions or inconsistencies in the information a State has provided about its nuclear activities. Advance notice in most cases is at least 24 hours. The advance notice is shorter - at least two hours - for access to any place on a site that is sought in conjunction with design information verification or ad hoc or routine inspections at that site. The activities carried out during complementary access could include examination of records, visual observation, environmental sampling, utilization of radiation detection and measurement devices, and the application of seals and other identifying and tamper-indicating devices).
- IAEA collection of environmental samples at locations beyond declared locations when deemed necessary by the Agency. (Wider area environmental sampling would require IAEA Board approval of such sampling and consultations with the State concerned).
- IAEA right to make use of internationally established communications systems, including satellite systems and other forms of telecommunication.
- State acceptance of IAEA inspector designations and issuance of multiple entry visas (valid for at least one year) for inspectors.
- State provision of information about, and IAEA verification mechanisms for, its research and development activities related to its nuclear fuel cycle.
- State provision of information on the manufacture and export of sensitive nuclear-related technologies, and IAEA verification mechanisms for manufacturing and import locations in the State. (Source: IAEA)
Who are the signatories?
Click here for a list of States and other Parties with additional Protocols approved by the (IAEA) Board, signed or in force (as of November 7, 2010).
Duyeon Kim 202-546-0795 dkim@armscontrolcenter.org
Duyeon Kim is the Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation where her policy work focuses on North Korea, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear security and nuclear terrorism prevention. Kim has published in major publications including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and World Politics Review. Prior to joining the Center, Kim was a career Diplomatic and Security Journalist in Seoul.