Organizations are invited to join the newly launched IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on the Nuclear Security Implications of Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Suspect Items (CFSIs) with the aim of establishing a holistic approach in the way that CFSIs are addressed in the nuclear supply chain. The one-year CRP is part of the IAEA’s concerted effort to overcome current and evolving challenges to nuclear security related to CFSIs.
The integrity of the equipment, systems, structures, components or devices that constitute the technological measures of a physical protection regime, or facilitate the conduct of other activities involving nuclear or other radioactive material, are dependent on the supply chain. Counterfeit and fraudulent items that are produced and inserted into the supply chain can degrade and undermine the functionality and integrity of the overall sub-assembly or assembly in which they are built.
“Within the nuclear sector, it is important to think about how CFSIs may impact nuclear security. The ever-increasing occurrence of CFSIs in the global supply chain increases the likelihood and the frequency that organizations operating nuclear facilities or authorized to use nuclear or other radioactive material, encounter these items,” said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Security. “Leveraging existing practices from other industries as well as developing novel approaches to prevent or mitigate the impacts of CFSIs, will further contribute to a robust nuclear security regime and reduce the risk of CFSIs resulting in the occurrence of a nuclear security event.”
To effectively address CFSIs, there are a number of actions that can be introduced and considered, which range from preventing initial CFSI infiltration to identification of CFSIs within final products that have been procured and received by the end user.
