US hails coming into force of amendment to CPPNM

With the coming into force of an amendment to the convention on the physical protection of nuclear material, the US has hailed the development as a significant step forward in protecting the world's atomic material and preventing nuclear terrorism.
"This Amendment strengthens the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) by adding requirements for states party to the treaty to protect nuclear facilities and nuclear material in domestic use, storage and transport -- not just international transit," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said.
Yesterday, the global community took a significant step forward in protecting the world's nuclear material and preventing nuclear terrorism with the entry into force of the 2005 amendment to the CPPNM, she said.

The amendment also legally requires the 102 signatory states to maintain even stronger standards of nuclear security than did the original CPPNM.
Entry into force of the amendment strengthens the global nuclear security architecture, which enables states to continue to safely and securely pursue peaceful uses of nuclear technology, Trudeau said.
"We commend the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its role as depositary for the Convention. We will continue to work with the IAEA to universalise the amended CPPNM, which now becomes known as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (CPP)," she said.