Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident

The Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, adopted in 1986 following the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident, establishes a notification system for nuclear accidents from which a release of radioactive material occurs or is likely to occur and which has resulted or may result in an international transboundary release that could be of radiological safety significance for another State. It requires States to report the accident's time, location, nature, and other data essential for assessing the situation. Notification is to be made to affected States directly or through the IAEA, and to the IAEA itself. Reporting is mandatory for any nuclear accident involving facilities and activities listed in Article 1. Pursuant to Article 3, States may notify other nuclear accidents as well.

The Early Notification Convention entered into force on 27 October 1986.

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Date of adoption: 26 September 1986
Place of adoption: Vienna, Austria
Date of entry into force: 27 October 1986
Depositary: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)