Coordination between National Regulators for the Safety and Security of International Shipments of Radioactive Materials between Member States

The safety record of transporting radioactive material is remarkable; globally with tens of millions of packages transported; each year with approximately 2-3% is related to the nuclear industry. Much of this success is due to the ongoing commitment made by the IAEA and its Member States to maintain over the past 50 years the prescriptive safety regulations for the transport of radioactive material (SSR6), which is the global basis of transport regulations for radioactive material. In the coming years there will be a significant increase in the number of shipments of packages containing radioactive material, the main contributors being: - the medical sector, with emerging markets in developing countries; - the nuclear industry from decommissioning activities, and, - the revival and the emergence of nuclear power generation in several Member States. Clearly, the challenge faced by the Competent Authority (CA) in each Member State is for them to satisfy themselves, collectively for international routes, that shipments of radioactive material comply with the transport regulations thereby achieving the internationally agreed levels of safety and security provided by the transport regulatory requirements. The most efficient and effective solution is to encourage the international coordination and collaboration between Competent Authorities responsible for the regulatory oversight of transporting radioactive material both regionally and between Member States who share international trade interests/routes. In Europe, this approach was adopted with the creation, in February 2008, of the ‘European Association of Competent Authorities’. With 23 EU countries involved, the Association represents more than 80% of the overall EU territory and population. For emerging markets in developing countries insufficient regulator resources or immature regulatory infrastructures are examples of issues to be addressed if medical treatments for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and other humanitarian aid involving radioactive material is to be provided This paper proposes the coordination and collaboration between Competent Authorities as part of a transport model that would enable the societal needs of existing and developing markets to be met.