Ratification and implementation assistance

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Office of Legal Affairs can provide legislative assistance in response to requests from states.

In addition, the IAEA’s Department of Safeguards can provide guidance on the preparation of safeguards reports and declarations. The IAEA Department of Safeguards also provides training to state officials responsible for national safeguards matters. The IAEA Director General’s Office for Policy has overall responsibility for the negotiation of both Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols with states.

The IAEA has produced several documents detailing how to conclude and implement Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols. These can be found by following the ‘Ratification and Implementation’ link on the right-hand side of this page. States may find the document ‘Guidelines and Format for Preparation and Submission of Declarations Pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of the Model Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreements ‘ particularly usfeul. Within this document, the IAEA note that if states submit declarations according to the guidelines outlined therein, ‘it will reduce greatly the Agency’s workload in processing, reviewing and storing the information provided. ‘

VERTIC, for its part, offers assistance on the ratification process for the Additional Protocol to states that are considering entering into this agreement.

VERTIC also offers legislative drafting assistance on obligations under the protocol to states engaging in implementation of the agreement. This assistance can take place remotely or in capitals, at no cost. VERTIC proposes approaches to fully implement the Additional Protocol, including amendments to existing legislation or as a single issue law.

For more information, please contact Larry MacFaul.