On 27 June 2014, Japan deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) with the IAEA.
Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa, Resident Representative of Japan to the IAEA, delivered the document to IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at his offices in Vienna on 27 June, following its formal approval by the Japanese government that morning.
The Director General stated that entry-into-force of the Amendment is a priority for the Agency, as it is the most important step that the international community can take to strengthen nuclear security worldwide. He noted the strong momentum towards entry-into-force, stating his expectation that this would happen in the near future.
With the deposit by Japan of its instrument of acceptance, there are now 77 Contracting States to the Amendment to the CPPNM. Adherence by an additional 22 States is still required for the Amendment to enter into force.
Background
The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material was signed in Vienna and New York on 3 March 1980. The Convention is the only international legally binding undertaking in the area of physical protection of nuclear material. It establishes measures related to the prevention, detection, and punishment of offenses relating to nuclear material.
A Diplomatic Conference was convened in July 2005 to amend the Convention and strengthen its provisions. The amended Convention makes it legally binding for States Parties to protect nuclear facilities and material in peaceful domestic use, storage, as well as transport. It also provides for expanded cooperation between and among States regarding rapid measures to locate and recover stolen or smuggled nuclear material, mitigate any radiological consequences of sabotage, and prevent and combat related offences.
The amendment will take effect once it has been ratified by two-thirds of the States Parties of the Convention.