Regulatory control of nuclear materials

Nuclear materials are special fissionable materials and source materials, such as uranium, plutonium and thorium. Nuclear materials are suitable for the production of nuclear energy.
In addition to the above-mentioned nuclear materials also other materials, devices, equipment, data and agreements which relate to the field of nuclear energy and may have relevance to the proliferation of nuclear weapons are controlled.

Non-Proliferation Treaty

The purpose of nuclear material control, i.e. nuclear material safeguards, is to make sure that nuclear materials are not transferred from peaceful use to the production of nuclear weapons. The basis of safeguards is the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which came into force in 1970. The five nuclear weapon states - the USA, Russia, France, China and Great Britain - have committed to not to spread nuclear weapons. Non-nuclear weapon states parties to the Treaty have promised not to participate in any nuclear weapons projects. They accept the international safeguards of the IAEA.

In the beginning of 2005, 188 countries had agreed to the NPT. Countries which are not part of the treaty include Israel, India and Pakistan.

Finland signed the IAEA safeguards agreement in 1971. In 1995 this agreement was replaced by the Safeguards Agreement signed by non-nuclear weapon states of the EU, the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the IAEA. The purpose of safeguards is to prevent diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

National and international safeguards

All operations relating to the production of nuclear energy are subject to licences in Finland. A licence is required for the possession, manufacturing, production, conveyance, handling, use, storage, transport, export and import of nuclear materials, among other things.

The whereabouts of nuclear materials are well documented. Nuclear materials are documented also according to the country of origin. The countries of origin have made extra demands on their deliveries. The licensees are obliged to report on their operations to STUK.

The IAEA and Euratom check the nuclear fuel imported to Finland and the facts, for instance, on the amount and transportation of nuclear materials reported by nuclear power plants.

 
To make sure that the stored material is spent nuclear fuel the inspectors use CVD (Cerenkov viewing device) binoculars.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is the highest authority in the field of nuclear energy in Finland. The regulatory control of the use and safety of nuclear energy is entrusted to STUK.

STUK verifies that the users of nuclear energy comply with the current regulations. The national safeguards system comprises all the actions, means and organisations aiming at preventing the illicit trafficking and use of nuclear materials. The national system of nuclear material control is intensified by the safety arrangements against illegal actions.

STUK, Euratom and the IAEA check the nuclear materials of nuclear power plants at least every third month. A thorough inventory is carried out once a year in connection with refuelling.

ESARDA

ESARDA, the European Safeguards Research and Development Association, is comprised of European organisations actively involved in the Research and Development of Nuclear Safeguards. STUK is one of the members of ESARDA. ESARDAs homepage

UN 1540 to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Weapons of mass destruction, WMDs, refer to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 tries to find an answer to the question on how to prevent terrorist groups from laying their hands on WMDs. Binding on all UN Member States, it urges them to take effective measures to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 

Finnish Actions Implementing United Nations Resolution 1540

UN pages regarding the resolution