Diplomatic Conference to adopt a Joint Convention on Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

Delegates from over 50 States are to attend a Diplomatic Conference at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna from 1 to 5 September 1997 to adopt a Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuels Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. This joint convention will be the first international instrument to address the safety of management and storage of radioactive wastes and spent fuel in countries with and without nuclear programmes.

It is recognized that the primary responsibility for the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste rests with the national authorities. It has however, been accepted that there is transboundary dimension and that international cooperation as well as international norms can significantly contribute to improving the safety in this field. Therefore, the IAEA since its inception 40 years ago, organized international symposia and meetings to establish international recommendations for the safe management and storage of radioactive wastes and spent fuel. First recommendations and international guidance were published in the mid sixties. These recommendations have been widely accepted by the IAEA Member States and incorporated into their national legislation.

The need to negotiate a Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was expressed in the context of the Convention on Nuclear Safety adopted at the IAEA in 1994. A preambular paragraph of this convention affirms "the need to begin promptly the development of an international convention on the safety of radioactive waste management as soon as the ongoing process to develop waste management safety fundaments has resulted in broad international agreement"

Within less than 3 years, a draft text for such a convention has been established by an international group of legal and technical experts from IAEA Member States (July 1995 to March 1997).

One of the main objectives of this Convention is to ensure that during all stages of spent fuel and radioactive waste management there are effective defenses against potential hazards so that individuals, society and the environment are protected from harmful effects of ionizing radiation, now and in the future, in such a way that the needs and aspirations of the present generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations. The Convention also aims at promoting an effective nuclear safety culture worldwide.

The convention establishes a binding reporting system for Contracting Parties to address all measures taken by each State to implement the obligations under the Convention. This would include national inventories of radioactive wastes and spent fuel.

Note: The Plenary Sessions of the Diplomatic Conference - most probably on Monday, 1 September and Friday, 5 September 1997 are open to accredited journalists. Please apply for accreditation to the IAEA Division of Public Information, Tel. (431) 2060 21275, Fax (431) 2060 29610.