Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

Parties with reservations, declarations and objections

Party	Reservations / Declarations	Objections
Azerbaijan	Yes	No
Belgium	Yes	No
Canada	Yes	No
Denmark	Yes	No
EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community)	Yes	No
Israel	Yes	No
Myanmar	Yes	No
New Zealand	Yes	No
Pakistan	Yes	No
Singapore	Yes	No
Syria	Yes	No
Türkiye	Yes	No
United States of America	Yes	No

Azerbaijan

31-03-2016

1. The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that the provisions of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material shall not be applied by the Republic of Azerbaijan in respect of the Republic of Armenia.
2. The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it is unable to guarantee the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in its territories occupied by the Republic of Armenia (the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its seven districts surrounding that region), until the liberation of those territories from the occupation and complete elimination of the consequences of that occupation (the schematic map of the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan is enclosed).
3. The Republic of Azerbaijan reserves the right to amend or revoke at any time the provisions of Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2 of the present Declaration, and other Parties shall be notified in writing of any such amendments or revocation.

Belgium

22-01-2013

Referring to Article 2A of the protocol to amend the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the Belgian Government declares that it interprets the fundamental principles of physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities contained in paragraph 3 of Article 2A as guidelines which the State Party must apply in implementing the obligations of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2A.
Consequently, the Belgian Government considers that the fundamental principles of physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities do not, in themselves, constitute legal obligations.

Canada

03-12-2013

The Government of Canada considers the application of Article 7(1)(k) of the Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as amended by the Amendment to the Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, to be limited to acts committed in furthering a conspiracy of
two or more persons to commit a specific criminal offence contemplated in paragraphs 1 (a) to (g) of
Article 7 of the amended Convention.

Denmark

19-05-2010

Until further notice the Amendment to the Convention shall not apply to […] the Faroe Islands.

EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community)

16-12-2015

Declaration by the European Atomic Energy Community according to the provisions of Articles 18(4) and 17(3) of the Convention:
The following States are presently members of the European Atomic Energy Community: the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Community declares that Articles 8 to 13 and Article 14(2) and (3) of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities do not apply to it.
Furthermore, pursuant to Article 17(3) of the Convention, the Community also declares that since only States may be parties in cases before the International Court of Justice, the Community is only bound by the arbitration procedure referred to in Article 17(2).

Israel

16-03-2012

In accordance with Article 17 paragraph 3, the Government of the State of Israel reiterates that it does not consider itself bound by the dispute settlement procedures provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 17 of the Convention.

Myanmar

05-01-2017

In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 17 of the Convention, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar declares that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of Article 17.

New Zealand

18-03-2016

The Government of New Zealand advises that, consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account the commitment of the Government of New Zealand to the development of self-government for Tokelau through an act of self-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this acceptance shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory.

Pakistan

24-03-2016

Reservation:
Pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 17 of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, as amended, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan reiterates that it does not consider itself bound by either of the dispute settlement procedures provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 17 of the Convention.
Declarations:
(1) The Convention does not provide a basis for any action by a State or international organization, which i) is not specifically provided for in the provisions of the Convention, and ii) which impinges upon the sovereign rights and interests of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
(2) Nothing in paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the Convention shall be construed as encouraging or condoning the threat or use of force in international relations which shall, in all circumstances, be strictly governed by the principles of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
(3) Nothing in the Convention, and particularly the cooperation or the sharing of information pursuant to Article 5, shall be construed to further or achieve any political purpose;
(4) The term "international humanitarian law" refers to those legal instruments to which the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is already a party to, and nothing in the Convention shall be interpreted as giving a different status to the armed entities and groups other than the armed forces of a State as currently understood and applied in international law and thereby creating new obligations for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
(5) The term "armed conflict", as employed in the Convention, does not include law enforcement or counterterrorism operations; internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence through any means; and other acts of a similar nature;
(6) It does not consider Article 11 of the Convention to be the legal basis for extradition, with respect of the offences set forth therein, and it shall conduct all extraditions under the Convention in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on the basis of treaties on extradition the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has entered into, and upon the principle of reciprocity.

Singapore

22-10-2014

(1) Pursuant to Article 17, paragraph 3, of the amended Convention, the Republic of Singapore declares that it does not consider itself bound by both of the dispute settlement procedures provided for in Article 17, paragraph 2, of the amended Convention.
(2) The Republic of Singapore understands Article 10 of the amended Convention to include the right of competent authorities to decide not to submit any particular case for prosecution before the judicial authorities if the alleged offender is dealt with under national security and preventive detention laws.
(3) The Republic of Singapore understands that the term 'armed conflict' in Article 2, paragraph 4, subparagraph (b), of the amended Convention does not include internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence, and other acts of a similar nature.
(4) The Republic of Singapore understands that under Article 2, paragraph 4, subparagraph (b), the amended Convention does not apply to:
(a) the military forces of a state in the exercise of their official duties;
(b) civilians who direct or organise the official activities of military forces of a state; or
(c) civilians acting in support of the official activities of the military forces of a state, if the civilians are under the formal command, control, and responsibility of those forces.

Syria

05-12-2019

The Syrian Arab Republic’s accession to this agreement does not signify in any way whatsoever recognition of Israel or involvement with it in any matter related to the provisions of this Convention. The Syrian Arab Republic has reservations regarding implementation of the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 17 of the Convention concerning the settlement of disputes.

Türkiye

08-07-2015

It is the understanding of the Republic of Turkey that the term international humanitarian law in paragraphs (a) and (b) of article 2(4) of Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, refers to the legal instruments to which Turkey is already party. The article should not be interpreted as giving a different status to the armed forces and groups other than the armed forces of a state as currently understood and applied in international law and thereby creating new obligations for Turkey.

United States of America

31-07-2015

Consistent with Article 17(3) of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the United States of America declares that it does not consider itself bound by Article 17(2) of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material with respect to disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Amendment.
Understandings:
(1) The United States of America understands that the term "armed conflict" in Paragraph 5 of the Amendment (Article 2 of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as amended) does not include internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence, and other acts of a similar nature.
(2) The United States of America understands that the term "international humanitarian law" in Paragraph 5 of the Amendment (Article 2 of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as amended) has the same substantive meaning as the law of war.
(3) The United States of America understands that, pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Amendment (Article 2 of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as amended), the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as amended, will not apply to: a) the military forces of a State, which are the armed forces of a State organized, trained, and equipped under its internal law for the primary purpose of national defense or security, in the exercise of their official duties; b) civilians who direct or organize the official activities of military forces of a State; or c) civilians acting in support of the official activities of the military forces of a State, if the civilians are under the formal command, control, and responsibility of those forces.