The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says eight other countries have so far ratified the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM).

According to a document from the ongoing Nuclear Security Summit on Friday, the countries that have so far ratified the CPPNM are Montenegro, Kuwait, Cameroon, Azerbaijan, Marshall Islands, Serbia, Pakistan and Paraguay.

They join Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Iceland and Botswana who had earlier ratified the CPPNM.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPPNM is the only legally binding international body undertaking in the area of physical protection of nuclear materials entered into force in 1987.

It focuses on the physical protection of nuclear materials used for peaceful purposes; but did not cover the protection of nuclear facilities.

In 2005, the parties to the convention adopted the amendment to broaden the scope of the original convention to cover nuclear facilities and nuclear materials in domestic use.

NAN also reports that two-thirds of the state parties to the CPPNM must adhere to the amendment for it to enter into force.

The CPPNM now has 152 states and the amendment has 92 contracting states.

NAN reports that the convention is also one of the 13 international counter-terrorism instruments.

It establishes measures related to the prevention, detection and punishment of offences related to nuclear materials.

On July 8, 2005, parties to the CPPNM adopted by consensus an amendment to the convention, wherein obligations for physical protection under the CPPNM covered nuclear materials during international transport.

The amendment also makes it legally binding for state parties to protect nuclear facilities and materials in peaceful domestic use, storage and transport.

It also provides for expanded cooperation between and among states regarding rapid measures to locate and recover stolen or smuggled nuclear material.

To also mitigate any radiological consequences of sabotage and prevent combat related offences.

The amendment, the IAEA says is important for nuclear security and will have a major impact in reducing the vulnerability of states parties to nuclear terrorism.

The IAEA’s Board of Governors and General Conference have both encouraged all states parties to ratify the amendment and to act in accordance with its objective and purpose pending its entry into force.