IAEA missions seek to improve nuclear security

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) teams of nuclear security experts seek to improve nuclear security around the world by conducting International Physical Protection Service missions (IPPAS), such
as a recent mission to the United Kingdom.

The IPPAS missions accomplish this by comparing a nation’s nuclear physical protection regime to international legal instruments guidelines and best practices, like the 2005 Amendment to the Convention
on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the IAEA Nuclear Security Series guidance publications. The IPPAS program was started with its first mission in 1996.

In 2011, the team visited the Sellafield civil nuclear site and Barrow Port, which is used for the transport
of nuclear material. In February 2016, they conducted a follow-up mission during which they reviewed actions taken in response to the 2011 mission’s advice.

“The missions have been valuable in allowing the UK to draw upon the expertise of the IAEA and other Member States in a range of disciplines across nuclear security,” Robin Grimes, chief scientific adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said. “They have identified areas of good security practice that the UK can share with others.”

Albania, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates have recently hosted IPPAS missions. Australia, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, Hungary, Jamaica, Lithuania, Madagascar and Turkey requested IPPAS missions for 2017.

“The significant increase in the number of requests for IPPAS missions demonstrates that this independent international advisory service is being recognized for its value in the exchange of views and advice on nuclear security,” IAEA Senior Nuclear Security Officer Arvydas Stadalnikas said. “IPPAS’ 20-year anniversary marks significant achievements, which are an incentive for the IAEA to continuously enhance this service to make it more beneficial to Member States.”