The Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) celebrated 20 years of successful application of nuclear verification on 20 September 2011 during the IAEA's 55th General Conference.
Director General Yukiya Amano attended the event.
The IAEA cooperates with ABACC to verify that nuclear material that could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction is used exclusively for peaceful purposes.
"ABACC is a unique bilateral safeguards venture between Brazil and Argentina. And our work with the IAEA has elevated our efforts so that they have reached international standards," said ABACC Secretary, Odilon Marcuzzo do Canto.
"We are very proud of our achievements over the last 20 years."
There are now 62 nuclear installations under IAEA/ABACC safeguards in Argentina and Brazil.
Both Agencies hold regular meetings to review the cooperation, examine the development of safeguards methods and techniques, discuss safeguards implementation issues and conduct joint training sessions.