This database is the IAEA’s information system on incidents of illicit trafficking and other unauthorized activities and events involving nuclear and other radioactive material outside of regulatory control.
The ITDB was established in 1995 to help participating States and selected international organizations to combat illicit nuclear trafficking and strengthen nuclear security. It facilitates information exchange and provides material that can be used to analyze patterns and trends, thereby helping identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities. The ITDB is also an essential component of the information platform supporting the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Plan 2022-2025.
The scope of the information provided through the database is broad. States are encouraged to report a variety of incidents, including those – whether successful, unsuccessful or thwarted – involving the illegal trade and movement of nuclear or other radioactive material across national borders.
The ITDB information also covers incidents involving the unauthorized acquisition – for instance through theft, supply, possession, use, transfer or disposal (intentional or unintentional) of nuclear and other radioactive material, with or without crossing international borders. Additionally, the ITDB includes information on the loss of material and the discovery of uncontrolled material, as well as incidents involving the intentional offering for sale of benign material that is purported to be nuclear or otherwise radioactive (in other words, scams).
Groupings of Incident Types
The ITDB’s Terms of Reference (ToR) require the ITDB to be an authoritative source of information for States and, when appropriate, the media. For this purpose, three groups (Groups I, II and III) are used in order to facilitate the analysis of incidents. Each group is related to Trafficking and Malicious Use.
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GROUP I - Confirmed or likely act of Trafficking/Malicious Use or Scam/Fraud (including attempts thereof). Incidents included are those for which sufficient information is provided in the reporting State’s Incident Notification Form (INF) to determine that the incident is, or is likely to be, connected, with Trafficking or Malicious Use.
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GROUP II - Undetermined act of Trafficking/Malicious Use (including attempts thereof). Incidents included are those for which there is insufficient information provided in the reporting State’s INF to determine that the incident is, or is likely to be, either connected or unconnected with Trafficking or Malicious Use.
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GROUP III - Confirmed or likely absence of an act of Trafficking/Malicious Use (including attempts thereof). Incidents included are those for which sufficient information is provided in the reporting States’ INF, to determine that the incident is not, or is unlikely to be, connected, with Trafficking or Malicious Use.
