BIS publishes protocols to U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement

BIS publishes protocols to U.S.-IAEA Safeguards Agreement The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has published regulations to implement the provisions of the so-called Additional Protocol to the U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement.
   The Additional Protocol now expands safeguards to the entire nuclear fuel-cycle.

Wall

   “Implementation of the Additional Protocol regulations demonstrates the U.S. government’s commitment to a comprehensive strategy to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons,” said Christopher R. Wall, Commerce’s assistant secretary for export administration, in a statement.
   “We will work with affected U.S. companies and research institutions to establish their compliance with the Additional Protocol while minimizing their burdens and protecting their proprietary information,” he said.
   Companies engaged in activities subject to the Additional Protocol regulations must provide BIS with annual reports, which will be transmitted to the IAEA and subject to complementary access by IAEA inspectors.
   Subject activities include:
   ' Uranium mining.
   ' Certain nuclear-related equipment manufacturing.
   ' Exports and imports of nuclear-related equipment and nuclear-related non-nuclear material.
   ' Civil nuclear fuel cycle-related research and development activities not involving nuclear material.
   Initial reports are due to BIS by Nov. 30. To help the industry comply with the regulations, the agency has launched a new Web site (www.ap.gov), which is dedicated to U.S. implementation of the Additional Protocol.