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2.2 | The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management |
| The "Joint Convention", as it is often called, is the counterpart of the Convention on Nuclear Safety for spent fuel and radioactive waste management facilities. France signed it on 29 September 1997 (the first day it was open for signature at the IAEA's General Conference). The Joint Convention came into force on 18 June 2001. At the end of 2005, it had been ratified or approved by 34 States (Brazil, People's Republic of China, India, Italy, the Russian Federation, as well as many countries in which radioactive waste originates from medical, industrial or research activities, have not yet adopted it). One key activity by the ASN in 2005 was to coordinate preparation of the French report for the second review meeting, to be held in Vienna from 15 to 24 May 2006. Like the French reports for the Convention on Nuclear Safety, this report contains contributions from the various French government departments concerned, as well as the operators involved in spent fuel and radioactive waste management. As France had promised, this report also deals with spent fuel reprocessing activities. The French and English versions of this report were sent to the IAEA, the Joint Convention depositary, in October 2005. The Director General of the ASN will chair the second review meeting. |
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2.3 | The Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident |
| The Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident came into force in October 1986, 6 months after the Chernobyl accident and at the end of 2005, it had been ratified by 92 States. The contracting parties agree to inform the international community as rapidly as possible of any accident leading to uncontrolled release into the environment of radioactive material likely to affect a neighbouring State. A system of communication between States is therefore coordinated by the IAEA and regular drills are held among the contracting parties. The ASN is the competent national authority for France. | ||
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2.4 | Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency |
| The Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency came into force in February 1987 and at the end of 2005, it had been ratified by 89 States. Its purpose is to facilitate cooperation between countries if one of them were to be affected by an accident with radiological consequences. This Convention has already been used on several occasions for accidents due to abandoned radioactive sources. Within this context, France's specialised services have already taken charge of treating irradiated victims. The ASN is the competent national authority for France. | ||
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2.5 | Other conventions related to nuclear safety |
Other international conventions, the scope of which does not fall within the remit of the ASN, may be linked to nuclear safety. This is particularly the case with the Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material, the aim of which is to reinforce protection against malicious acts and the unlawful use of nuclear materials. This Convention, which came into force in February 1987, had by the end of August 2005 been ratified by 105 States, including France. Additional information on these conventions may be obtained from the
IAEA's website: |
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