U.S. Hails Entry into Force of Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

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 Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM).

This Amendment strengthens the 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.  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.  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 universalize the amended CPPNM, which now becomes known as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (CPP).