The International Atomic Energy Agency and nuclear safeguards

When set up in 1957 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was unable to reduce the stockpiles of fissile material held by the nuclear weapons states at that time. Only after 1964 did the IAEA draw up a comprehensive safeguards system that covered reactors, fuel fabrication plants and reprocessing facilities. In 1967 the Latin American States concluded the Tlatelolco treaty which created a nuclear weapon free zone in the region with all nuclear activities under IAEA safeguards. The various IAEA Safeguard documents are compared and their status in Euratom and Japan are considered. Safeguards during 1980-1982 and future issues such as Iraq's nuclear development programme are discussed. (UK)