The Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (c. 5) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning nuclear regulation.
Background Prior to the Gulf war Iraq had been undertaking a secret nuclear weapons programme, despite having a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It was therefore thought appropriate to strengthen the international nuclear safeguards system by allowing the agency rights of access to nuclear facilities. These new powers were enacted by the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 22 September 1998.
Provisions The act gives the UK Government the power to provide a strengthened nuclear safeguards system in the United Kingdom. It provides an additional protocol to the nuclear safeguards agreement with the European Atomic Energy Community and the International Atomic Energy Agency. This protocol was to the 1998 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The act comprises 12 sections:
Section 1. Interpretation. Section 2. Information and records for purposes of the Additional Protocol. Section 3. Identifying persons who have information. Section 4. Powers of entry in relation to Additional Protocol information. Section 5. Rights of access etc. for Agency inspectors. Section 6. Restriction on disclosure. Section 7. Giving false or misleading information. Section 8. Power to search and obtain evidence. Section 9. Penalty for offences and offences by bodies corporate. Section 10. Service of notices. Section 11. Minor and consequential amendments. Section 12. Short title etc.
Commencement The act came into force in 2004.
See also Atomic Energy Authority Act Atomic Energy Research Establishment Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom
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