1. Starting from the moment operators hold nuclear material and for each material balance area, they shall provide the Commission with inventory change reports in respect of all nuclear materials using the format set out in Annex III. Unless otherwise specified in the particular safeguard provisions referred to in Article 8 for an installation, inventory change reports shall be sent monthly, at the latest 15 days after the end of the month, and shall state all inventory changes which have occurred or become known during that month.
2. For months in which a physical inventory is taken, and the physical inventory taking date is not the last day of the month, two separate inventory change reports shall be provided:
a first inventory change report containing any inventory changes up to and including the physical inventory taking date, which shall be sent at the latest, together with the second inventory change report, or together with the physical inventory listing and the material balance report if the latter are sent before the second inventory change report;
a second inventory change report containing all inventory changes from the first day after the physical inventory taking date to the end of the month, which shall be sent within 15 days of the end of the month.
3. For months in which no inventory changes occur, operators concerned shall send the inventory change report, carrying over the ending book inventory of the previous month.
4. In order that they may be reported as a single inventory change, small inventory changes, such as transfers of samples for purposes of analysis, may be grouped together, as laid down in the particular safeguard provisions referred to in Article 8 for the installation concerned.
5. Inventory change reports may be accompanied by comments explaining the inventory changes.