The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has completed an International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission in the Netherlands today. This peer review mission aimed to assess the country's nuclear security regime and provide recommendations to enhance its effectiveness.
The thirteen day mission was carried out at the request of the Government of the Netherlands and hosted by the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS). It is the fifth such mission in the Netherlands.
The team reviewed the nuclear security regime for nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities and activities, including computer security. It also assessed the Netherlands' implementation of the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its Amendment.
The IPPAS team - composed of 10 experts from Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, as well as one IAEA staff member - met in The Hague with senior officials and representatives from the ANVS. The team also assessed physical protection systems at the Petten High Flux research reactor, the Netherlands Cancer Institute (Antoni van Leeuwenhoek) in Amsterdam and Applus RTD in Rozenburg.
The team observed that the Netherlands is committed to a high level of nuclear security and that it has further strengthened its nuclear security capabilities since the last IPPAS mission in 2012. The team provided recommendations and suggestions to support the Netherlands in further enhancing and sustaining nuclear security. Good practices were identified that can serve as examples to other IAEA Member States to help strengthen their nuclear security activities.
"This fifth IPPAS mission in the Netherlands confirms the country's continuous commitment and efforts on building a strong nuclear security regime. The mission's findings indicate a well-established national nuclear security regime and alignment with the IAEA nuclear security guidance," said Arvydas Stadalnikas, Head of the Integrated Nuclear Security Approaches Unit at the IAEA's Division of Nuclear Security, during the mission closing ceremony.
"The 2023 IPPAS mission is an enriching experience for the ANVS, with a long period of intense preparation and two weeks of thorough review by a great team of international experts during the mission itself. The feedback helps us to further improve the level of nuclear security in The Netherlands," said Annemiek van Bolhuis, chair of the board of the ANVS. "As an independent regulator, it is crucial to commit to international peer reviews and to follow up on the recommendations that we received."
Background
The mission was the 101st IPPAS mission conducted by the IAEA since the programme began in 1995.
IPPAS missions are intended to assist States in strengthening their national nuclear security regime. The missions provide peer advice on implementing international instruments, along with IAEA guidance on the protection of nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities.
During missions, a team of international experts observes a nation's system of physical protection, compares it with international good practices and makes recommendations for improvement. IPPAS missions are conducted both on a nationwide and facility-specific basis.
