Background
Physical protection against unauthorized removal of nuclear material during use, storage and transport and against the sabotage of nuclear material and nuclear facilities during use, storage and transport has long been a matter of national and international concern and cooperation. In the light of this concern and in keeping with the tenets of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has facilitated the development and publication of international consensus recommendations. First published in 1975 under the title The Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities, IAEA document INFCIRC/225 is intended to assist Member States in implementing a comprehensive physical protection regime, including any obligations and commitments they might have with respect to international instruments on nuclear security.
The latest version, INFCIRC/225/Rev.5, was published in January 2011 as Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Revision 5) (IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 13). This fifth revision included a significant number of concepts not covered in previous versions and also expanded on previously included concepts. It was also designed to address the current threat environment more effectively, to ensure greater consistency with the CPPNM and its Amendment, as well as with United Nations Security Council resolution 1540, and to provide clearer physical protection guidance to States seeking to establish new peaceful nuclear power programmes.
The Amendment to the CPPNM entered into force on 8 May 2016, expanding the Convention to cover the protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear material in domestic use, storage and transport. In support of the provisions of the CPPNM and its Amendment, the IAEA has developed a comprehensive programme to assist Member States in developing and implementing their nuclear security regimes, in particular regarding physical protection of nuclear material in facilities and during its transport. In particular, the IAEA has actively worked on the dissemination of the recommendations contained in INFCIRC/225/Rev.5 through expert missions, workshops and training courses. The IAEA also provides advice on how to implement international obligations and take into account IAEA guidance (specifically that contained in INFCIRC/225/Rev.5) through the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS). The aim is to bring the Member States to a common understanding in regulating, implementing and sustaining physical protection regimes. Member States have expressed an interest in discussing their physical protection measures based on INFCIRC/225/Rev.5 and comparing their national regulatory frameworks with the recommendations contained in the document, and they are ready to share their experiences in the implementation of INFCIRC/225/Rev.5.
Therefore, an international conference will be conducted during the week of 13 to 17 November 2017 in order to provide a forum for Member States to share their experiences, difficulties, lessons learned and good practices adopted during the implementation of INFCIRC/225/Rev.5. Valuable input is also expected from Member States that are Contracting Parties to the CPPMN and its Amendment regarding the technical aspects of meeting their obligations deriving from these instruments.
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of the conference is to foster the exchange, among competent authorities, facility operators, shippers and carriers, and technical support organizations, of information, practices and experiences related to the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities, including nuclear material in transport.
The conference will provide a forum to:
- Promote universalization of the CPPNM and its Amendment and enhance international understanding of IAEA document INFCIRC/225/Rev.5;
- Share experiences with the development of physical protection regulatory frameworks and requirements for nuclear facilities and nuclear material, including during transport;
- Exchange information on the use of a threat-based, risk-informed approach for the protection of nuclear material in use, storage and transport, and for nuclear facilities;
- Exchange information on how to address evolving threats;
- Exchange information and experiences regarding the planning, establishment, maintenance and sustainment of physical protection measures and systems, including computer protection;
- Exchange information on methodologies and techniques to assess the effectiveness of physical protection measures and systems;
- Discuss common technical proposals for the purpose of upgrading the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities;
- Discuss the interface between nuclear material accountancy and control, on the one hand, and the physical protection of nuclear material in use, storage and transport, on the other;
- Share experiences related to how safety interfaces with security;
- Share experiences related to the assessment and enhancement of nuclear security culture;
- Discuss planning and preparedness for, and response to, nuclear security events at nuclear facilities and during the transport of nuclear material (contingency plans);
- Share the experience gained as a result of International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) missions and highlight the role of this service in enhancing the physical protection of nuclear material in use, storage and transport and of nuclear facilities worldwide; and
- Facilitate cooperation among all stakeholders at the national or international levels, as applicable.
The conference will not discuss any sensitive nuclear security information.
Key Deadlines and Dates
18 May 2017 - Electronic submission of synopsis via INDICO
18 May 2017 - Submission of forms A and B through the official channels
18 May 2017 - Grant application, including submission of Forms A and C through the official channels
31 July 2017 - Notification of acceptance of synopsis
29 September 2017 - Submission of full papers (10 pages maximum)
Open until the start of the conference - Registration only (no paper submission, no grant request)
Topics
Consistent with the objectives set out above, the overall themes for the conference will be:
- Enhance international understanding of IAEA document INFCIRC/225/Rev.5 and promote universalization of the CPPNM and its Amendment;
- International cooperation to strengthen the physical protection of nuclear material in use, storage and transport and of nuclear facilities;
- Legislative and regulatory framework for the physical protection of nuclear material in use, storage and transport and of nuclear facilities;
- Developing and sustaining a physical protection regime for nuclear material in use, storage and transport and for nuclear facilities;
- Protection against unauthorized removal of nuclear material during use, storage and transport and sabotage of nuclear material and nuclear facilities.
Participation and Registration Requirements
Persons wishing to attend the conference must register with the forms listed below.
All those wishing to present a paper must submit a synopsis by 18 May 2017 and be registered to attend the conference in order to be considered.
Items to be completed
- Form A: Submitted through the official authority of his/her country
- Form C: Grant applicants only - submitted through the official authority of his/her country
Synopsis Submission Requirements
Persons who wish to present a paper at the conference either orally or in the form of a poster must submit a synopsis to the IAEA. This synopsis must be submitted in an electronic format (no paper copies) directly to the IAEA. The synopsis should be between 400 and 800 words and relevant to the scientific and technical programme. The synopsis must be submitted through INDICO (this system).
All papers submitted must present original work and should not have been published elsewhere.
The synopsis should give enough information on the contents of the proposed paper to enable it to be evaluated.
Items to be completed
- Registration for the Conference (Form A) and Form C if a grant applicant
- Form B is to be completed by all participants submitting a synopsis
Conference Web Page
Please visit the following web page regularly for new information regarding this conference:
