Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (Convention on Assistance)
Ongoing

The Convention on Assistance sets up a framework for states parties to co-operate amongst themselves and with the International Atomic Energy Agency to facilitate prompt assistance in the event of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency.

  • Adopted: 26 September 1986
  • Opened for signature: 26 September 1986 (Vienna) and 6 October 1986 (New York)
  • Entered into force: 26 February 1987
  • Parties: 129 (including EURATOM, FAO, WHO and WMO) (see table below)

More information on the Convention on Assistance, including the text and current status, is available here.

The following articles related to the Convention on Assistance were published in the Nuclear Law Bulletin:

  • The IAEA Conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, by B. Moser (NLB 44, p. 10).
  • Inside nuclear baseball: Reflections on the development of the safety conventions, by C. Stoiber (NLB 100, p. 61).
  • The impact of the major nuclear power plant accidents on the international legal framework for nuclear power, by S.G. Burns (NLB 101, p. 7), updated in Principles and Practice of International Nuclear Law, p. 83.
  • Responding to the call: Assessing international legal frameworks for response to incidents involving floating nuclear power plants, by J. Karcz (NLB 110, p. 37).
  • Nuclear fusion: Legal Aspects, by W. Tonhauser and K. T. Olajos (NLB 111, p. 57).

 

Parties to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency

Albania Estonia Malawi Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Algeria Finland* Malaysia Saudi Arabia
Argentina* France* Mali Senegal
Armenia* Gabon Mauritania Serbia
Australia Georgia Mauritius Singapore
Austria Germany Mexico* Slovak Republic*
Bangladesh Ghana Moldova Slovenia*
Belarus* Greece Monaco South Africa*
Belgium* Guatemala Mongolia Spain*
Benin Hungary* Montenegro Sri Lanka
Bolivia Iceland Morocco Sweden*

Bosnia and Herzegovina

India* Mozambique Switzerland*
Botswana Indonesia Myanmar Syrian Arab Republic
Brazil* Iran* Namibia Tajikistan
Bulgaria* Iraq Netherlands* Tanzania
Burkina Faso Ireland New Zealand Thailand
Cambodia Israel Nicaragua Tunisia
Cameroon Italy Niger Türkiye
Canada* Japan* Nigeria Turkmenistan
Chile Jordan North Macedonia Ukraine*
China* Kazakhstan Norway United Arab Emirates*
Colombia Korea* Oman United Kingdom*
Costa Rica Kuwait Pakistan* United States*
Côte d'Ivoire Lao People's Democratic Republic Panama Uruguay
Croatia Latvia Paraguay Viet Nam
Cuba Lebannon  Peru Zimbabwe
Cyprus Lesotho Philippines EURATOM
Czechia* Liberia** Poland Food and Agriculture Organisation
Denmark Libya Portugal

World Health Organisation

Ecuador Liechtenstein Qatar World Meteorological Organisation
Egypt Lithuania Romania*  
El Salvador Luxembourg Russia*  
Eritrea Madagascar Rwanda  

* Country with at least one nuclear power plant in operation.

** Subject to an entry into force date of 18 October 2024.