The states that ratify the Convention agree to be governed by the convention's provisions on the storage of nuclear waste, including transport and the location, design, and operation of storage facilities.^{[citation needed]}

The Convention implements meetings of the state parties that review the states' implementation of the convention. The Fourth Review Meeting was held in 2012. A summary report from the meeting, and links to the national reports from the participating countries, is available on the IAEA website.^[2]

The convention was concluded in Vienna, Austria, on 29 September 1997 and entered into force on 18 June 2001.^[3] It was signed by 42 states. As of March 2016, it has 71 state parties plus the European Atomic Energy Community. Lebanon, and the Philippines have signed the convention but have not ratified it.

The following are the parties to the convention. States in bold have at least one nuclear power plant in operation.^[4]