IntegratedSafeguards – Current Status of Development and Plans for Implementation

The development of the conceptual framework, safeguards approaches, and implementation guidelines and criteria for integrated safeguards continues to be one of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s priorities. Integrated safeguards refers to the optimum combination of all safeguards measures available to the Agency under a comprehensive safeguards agreement and an additional protocol to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency, within available resources, in meeting the Agency’s safeguards objectives. Over the past year, substantial progress has been made on the development of facility-type-specific integrated safeguards approaches, the State level approach concept, and other aspects of implementation including the use of unannounced inspections, the role of State and regional systems of accounting and control, and procedures for randomisation of inspections. The paper will provide a current status of the development of integrated safeguards with particular emphasis on its main elements, progress to date, and plans for implementation.