Swiss federal authorities

News, Posts

Switzerland wants to strengthen its nuclear security regime with an IPPAS mission

Switzerland has submitted an application for an IPPAS mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This should take place in the middle of 2018 and aims at strengthening Switzerland’s nuclear security.

During the Nuclear Security Summit in March 2016, Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann announced that Switzerland was planning to host an IPPAS mission. The IAEA approved the application prepared by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) for a mission to take place in the middle of 2018, and thus triggered starting of preparatory work.

“Alongside nuclear safety, we also oversee the protection of Swiss nuclear installations against malicious intent. Based on an integral approach, we check the technical, structural, organisational, administrative and personnel measures of the operator in respect of security,” explains Rosa Sardella, Director of the Radiation Protection Division and thus also responsible for nuclear security at ENSI. The ENSI Board raised security to one of its six strategic priorities for the period 2016 to 2019.

Independent external assessment

“With the IPPAS mission we will receive an independent external view of international technical experts on the Swiss nuclear security system and want to check where there are further opportunities for improvement,” explains Rosa Sardella.

Missions of the International Physical Protection Advisory Service IPPAS offer information exchange and advice and thus enable an increase in knowledge and trust and the identification of potential improvements in nuclear security. In particular, the international experts should support Switzerland in,

  • …, using the IAEA nuclear security guidance as the basis for regulatory requirements relating to the development and operation of physical protection systems.
  • …, discussing best practices in the area of physical security with those responsible in other countries and thus benefiting from new concepts.

ENSI and the SFOE will share overall project management of the IPPAS mission. In addition numerous other authorities and partners will be involved during the mission.

Topics