The 6th Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) concluded today in Vienna, agreeing to convene a Diplomatic Conference next year to consider a proposed amendment to the CNS text to address the design and construction of both existing and new nuclear power plants.

An incentive instrument, the Nuclear Safety Convention aims to commit participating States and organizations to maintain a high level of nuclear safety by setting international benchmarks. The Contracting Parties to the Convention have committed to report on the implementation of their obligations, with the reports being reviewed by participants in meetings held every three years. The latest review meeting, attended by more than 800 participants from 69 Contracting Parties, wrapped up work today at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which serves as the Convention's Secretariat.

The Convention entered into force on 24 October 1996 to enhance nuclear safety, and today there are 76 Contracting Parties to the Convention, including 33 nations with nuclear power plants and 43 without.

"The Convention is a very important mechanism which has contributed a lot to strengthening nuclear safety in the countries which are party to it," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano told participants today.

One day of the meeting was devoted to discussions on lessons learned from the March 2011 accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

More information about the Convention, including links to national reports from parties is available here.