Implementation of Safeguards at the State level - Developments Based on Recent Experience

Since the 1990s, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been steadily making greater use of its ability to consider a State’s nuclear and nuclear-related capabilities as a whole for States with comprehensive safeguards agreements in force. In recent years the IAEA has gained experience in developing and implementing State-level safeguards approaches, particularly for States with comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols in force for which the broader conclusion, that all nuclear material remained in peaceful activities, has been drawn. By the end of 2018, the IAEA had developed State-level safeguards approaches (SLAs) for 130 States. Based on the experience gained, internal guidance, procedures and practices continue to be augmented to ensure consistency and to better integrate the processes that support safeguards implementation. This paper provides an overview of the continuing developments to facilitate and standardize State-level safeguards implementation, taking into account lessons learned.