Challenges Associated with the Development of International Transport Security Regulations

Following the events of September 11, 2001, a growing concern regarding the malicious use of radioactive materials and radioactive sources has led to the development of guidance and regulations pertaining to the physical protection of radioactive materials and radioactive sources while in use, in storage and during in transit. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources (January 2004) urges Member States of the IAEA to adopt the guidance contained in the Code through political commitments to the Code. A key objective of the Code is to “… serve as guidance to States for – inter alia – the development and harmonization of policies, laws and regulations on the safety and security of radioactive sources”. The IAEA’s Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources (March 2005, revised 2012) and IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 9, Security in the Transport of Radioactive Material” (September 2008) provides additional guidance more specific to transportation security. While the radioactive source industry recognizes the need for the physical protection of radioactive sources and supports current transportation security regulations that have been implemented by various Member States, the global nature of the radioactive source business, necessitates some level of harmonization of physical protection requirements during transport. However, unlike the harmonization of transport safety standards, the dynamic nature of security threats poses unique challenges in regards to the harmonization of physical protection measures during transport. This paper highlights some of these challenges and introduces possible methods to develop a harmonized approach to a basic level of physical protection in transport.