Field experience of safeguards inspectors

The work of the Agency's Department of Safeguards has changed over the last decade. In the main, this is due to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which entered into force in 1970. This treaty assigns to the Agency the job of safeguarding all the nuclear material in peaceful nuclear activities in those countries which are party to the treaty. Many new safeguards agreements had to be concluded and then implemented as a result of the NPT coming into force. Moreover, many new nuclear facilities were being built in the 1970s. The workload of the Inspectorate has increased greatly in the period 1970-1980. However, the negotiation and then implementation of so many new safeguards agreements, subsidiary arrangements and facility attachments - mainly based on the requirements of the NPT - has shown that the IAEA and the states can meet the twin objectives of developing nuclear power for peaceful ends and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons