Italian experience with the existing safeguards systems

The paper surveys the experience acquired in safeguards through the implementation of the Rome Treaty and the Italy-USA Bilateral Agreement and through compliance with the Italian legislation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The research and development activities carried out in co-operation with IAEA and the European Community under the ESARDA and special research agreements and contracts are illustrated. Safeguards systems as applied to the various stages of the fuel cycle, particularly during fuel fabrication, power generation and fuel reprocessing, are reviewed in the light of the current trends resulting from the requirements envisaged for the application of safeguards called for in the Non-Proliferation-Treaty. The review covers the problems encountered to date with verification of the consistency of experimental measurements, destructive and non-destructive test techniques, the existing surveillance and containment systems and the provisions for the physical protection of fissile material. (author)