Convention on Nuclear Safety

International conventions also contain similar requirements to those in the safety standards, and make them binding on contracting parties. The Safety Fundamentals were used as the basis for the development of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. The Safety... 

The Convention on Nuclear Safety was adopted in Vienna in 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 IAEA s... 

To provide some background I need to take you back to die development of anodier Convention, die Convention on Nuclear Safety, that was opened for signature at the General Conference last September after several years of preparatory work. You will hear more about this Convention in a presentation this afternoon by Nfr. Domaratzdd. 

So far as the style and structure was concerned, there was no doubt of the usefulness of the Convention on Nuclear Safety. It was rapidly agreed to take this as a model, indeed to aim towards a "sister" convention on Radioactive Waste Safety. In particular, this should be an "incentive" convention, it should contain reporting requirements to a Meeting of Contracting Parties and rely for... 

Convention on Nuclear Safety An international safety convention was developed in 1994 to enhance international cooperation and nuclear safety in general. 

Proposals for a convention on nuclear safety have been made for many years. In 1980, in the aftermath of the Three Mile Island accident, some saw the need for such an instrument. TMI had demonstrated that improvements should be made to the design and operation of what were until then thought to be very safe reactors. The objective would be to ensure that all cotmtries applied the lessons learned from TMI and brought their safety practices up to an acceptable international standard. At that time, however, the proposal for a convention found litde support. 

The countries of western Europe were particularly concerned about the possibility of finther accidents in eastern Europe. They saw a situation in neighboiuring states where, in their opinion, reactor designs were inadequate to ensure safety, the regulatory framework was absent and there was an absence of a sound safety culture in the operation of nuclear power plants. A mechanism was necessary to ensure that a high level of nuclear safety was achieved and maintained worldwide. An accident in one country was clearly seen as an accident that affected the nuclear programs in all countries. The incentive for a convention on nuclear safety was evident and many countries began to promote the idea. 

The year 1991 was a milestone year. An IAEA Conference on the Safely of Nuclear Power Strategy for the Future was organized in Vienna in September of that year to examine actions which should be taken to ensure that nuclear power would continue to be a viable option for the future. During the discussion several countries, with Germany being the strongest voice, promoted die idea of a convention on nuclear safety. The recommendations formulated at that conference included ... 

The title "Convention on Nuclear Safety" continues to reflect the wishes of some countries when drafting of this instrument was first undertaken. Many countries proposed a convention which would address the safety of all nuclear activities. The scope is more modest, however, being limited to the safety of land-based civil nuclear power plants. Nevertheless, the Convention addresses the activity of the greatest international concern nuclear power plants. 

The technical articles of the Convention on Nuclear Safety were drafted with nuclear power plants in mind. They are applicable to a great extent, however, to obligations which would be found in a convention on radioactive waste. There should be little if any difference in the required legislative framework, the role of the r nlatoiy body, quality assmance programs, safety assessment practices as well as the siting, design and construction practices. 

The entry into force of the Convention on Nuclear Safety is in sight. The experience gained in the preparation of that Convention as well as the prq>aratory work currently underway should be of value in developing a companion convention on radioactive waste. 

The lAEA-Member States have agreed on a "Convention on Nuclear Safety" which was presented to this Seminar on Monday by Z. G. Domaratzki. Encouraged by this success, the Agency started an initiative earlier this year to elaborate a parallel "Convention on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management" which was introduced during the Opening Session by G. A. Webb. 

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