The Republic of Chad notified the IAEA on 13 May that it completed its requirements for entry into force of the additional protocol, becoming the 100th State with such a protocol in force. This is seen as an important milestone in the effort to establish a strengthened global nuclear verification regime.
The additional protocol to safeguards agreements between States and the IAEA is a legal instrument that grants IAEA inspectors expanded rights of access to information and locations in States.
Over forty years ago, the IAEA was mandated by States parties to the NPT to verify that nuclear material and activities in non-nuclear-weapons States are not used for military purposes.
In 1997, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted additional measures to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of the safeguards system as a contribution to global nuclear non-proliferation objectives. The additional protocol also improves both the administrative procedures between States party to the NPT and the IAEA, as well as the communication between the inspectors and the IAEA´s Headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who has repeatedly called for the universal adoption of the additional protocol, lauded Chad for its initiative. "I welcome this latest entry into force and call on all States that have not yet done so to bring into force additional protocols without delay," he said.
"The additional protocol is of vital importance for the Agency to be able to provide credible assurance not only that declared nuclear material is not being diverted from peaceful uses, but also that there are no undeclared nuclear material and activities in a State," he commented.