The role of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Argentina in the implementation of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its amendment

The Argentine Republic signed the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) in 1986 and ratified its Amendment in 2011 (prior to its entry into force on May 8, 2016). As the CPPNM is the only legally binding international instrument in the area of physical protection, it is a key element of the international legal framework for nuclear security. During the last few years, nuclear security has become a very important concern at the international level and Argentina has demonstrated a strong commitment with this matter. Argentina has always highlighted the importance of IAEA's role in order to strengthen global nuclear security and has supported the efforts made by the Agency in it. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) of Argentina was created by the Nuclear Activity National Act as an autonomous body reporting to the country's Presidency, and is independent of any organization dedicated to the use or the promotion of nuclear energy in any of its forms. ARN has the final objective of protecting the people and the environment from the potential harm of ionizing radiations. With this goal it has federal competence to regulate the nuclear activity on specific areas: radiological safety, nuclear safety, safeguards and physical protection. As a regulator, ARN dictates regulatory standards, issues the permissions and licenses authorizing practices and installations, controls the compliance with standards, requirements and license conditions, enforces this compliance and has a leading role in the preparation and response to radiological and nuclear emergencies. In summary, regarding physical protection, ARN is the competent authority responsible for the implementation of the regulatory functions on the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities and radioactive sources, and therefore has a key role in complying with the CPPNM and its Amendment. Specifically, ARN issued the "Standard of Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Facilities" establishing general criteria of physical protection of nuclear materials within nuclear facilities and during transport. It identifies levels of protection, the general features that a physical protection system should include and main aspects of its assessment. This standard, AR 10.13.1, had a first revision in 2002 and is under a broader process of general revision nowadays. The paper will analyze the current status of the Argentine physical protection standards (in terms of normative, requirements and license conditions) and the challenges that the Amendment poses to our national legislation since new offences were incorporated to Article 7 of the Convention. It will also elaborate on the specific role of ARN in the implementation of CPPNM and its Amendment. (authors)