Morocco ratifies nuclear material protection amendment

Morocco has submitted its ratification of an amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced this week.

This amendment will require countries to protect nuclear facilities and associated materials in storage, transport and materials in use.

“Nuclear security is a long-standing and real issue that all countries need to take very seriously,” IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said. “Terrorists always target the weakest link, so we need to work together to address that. Entry into force of this amendment is the most important step forward we can take in the field of nuclear security.”

The CPPNM was established in 1987 and is the only international treaty focused on the protection of nuclear material used in civilian activities, including power generation. With Morocco ratifying the amendment there are 12 countries that will need to do the same for it to take effect. The treaty has 152 state parties and 90 are contracting states for the amendment.

In September, Amano urged countries that had not already submitted amendment ratifications to do so as soon as during the IAEA’s 59th General Conference.

Prior to Morocco, Iceland and Botswana were the most recent nations to accept the amendment.