Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (Convention on Assistance)
Ongoing

The Convention on Assistance sets up a framework for states parties to co-operate amongst themselves and with the International Atomic Energy Agency to facilitate prompt assistance in the event of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency.

  • Adopted: 26 September 1986
  • Opened for signature: 26 September 1986 (Vienna) and 6 October 1986 (New York)
  • Entered into force: 26 February 1987
  • Parties: 128 (including EURATOM, FAO, WHO and WMO) (see table below)

More information on the Convention on Assistance, including the text and current status, is available here.

The following articles related to the Convention on Assistance were published in the Nuclear Law Bulletin:

  • The IAEA Conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, by B. Moser (NLB 44, p. 10).
  • Inside nuclear baseball: Reflections on the development of the safety conventions, by C. Stoiber (NLB 100, p. 61).
  • The impact of the major nuclear power plant accidents on the international legal framework for nuclear power, by S.G. Burns (NLB 101, p. 7), updated in Principles and Practice of International Nuclear Law, p. 83.
  • Responding to the call: Assessing international legal frameworks for response to incidents involving floating nuclear power plants, by J. Karcz (NLB 110, p. 37).

 

Parties to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency

Albania Madagascar Madagascar Russia*
Algeria Malawi Malawi Rwanda
Argentina* Malaysia Malaysia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Armenia* Mali Mali Saudi Arabia
Australia Mauritania Mauritania Senegal
Austria Mauritius Mauritius Serbia
Bangladesh Mexico* Mexico* Singapore
Belarus* Moldova Moldova Slovak Republic*
Belgium* Monaco Monaco Slovenia*
Benin Mongolia Mongolia South Africa*
Bolivia Montenegro Montenegro Spain*

Bosnia and  Herzegovina

Morocco Morocco Sri Lanka
Botswana Mozambique Mozambique Sweden*
Brazil* Myanmar Myanmar Switzerland*
Bulgaria* Namibia Namibia Syrian Arab Republic
Burkina Faso Netherlands* Netherlands* Tajikistan
Cambodia New Zealand New Zealand Tanzania
Cameroon Nicaragua Nicaragua Thailand
Canada* Niger Niger Tunisia
Chile Nigeria Nigeria Türkiye
China* North Macedonia North Macedonia Turkmenistan
Colombia Norway Norway Ukraine*
Costa Rica Oman Oman United Arab Emirates*
Côte d'Ivoire Pakistan* Pakistan* United Kingdom*
Croatia Panama Panama United States*
Cuba Paraguay Paraguay Uruguay
Cyprus Peru Peru Viet Nam
Czechia* Philippines Philippines Zimbabwe
Denmark Poland Poland EURATOM
Ecuador Portugal Portugal Food and Agriculture Organisation
Egypt Qatar Qatar

World Health Organisation

El Salvador Luxembourg Romania* World Meteorological Organisation

* Country with at least one nuclear power plant in operation.