The IAEA's Role in International Information Exchange

In carrying out its mission to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world the International Atomic Energy Agency strives to foster the exchange of scientific and technical information concerning peaceful nuclear applications. In the transport safety area, this is achieved through a work programme comprising the development and maintenance of Safety Series No. 6, the Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (IAEA, 1961-1990), the implementation of those Regulations, and finally, co-ordinated research programmes supporting the first two activities. Under the implementation aspect of its transport safety programme the IAEA takes advantage of the increased availability of mass storage media and the equipment to access them to use databases for information exchange. Being in a unique position to facilitate information exchange, the IAEA initiated data collection activities on the recommendation of Member States through representation at SAG STRAM, the Standing Advisory Group on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. SAGSTRAM convenes approximately every 18 months to advise the IAEA's Director General on the subject area and, in this way, influences the IAEA's work programme. Information is collected in the areas of national competent authorities, package design certificates, events in radioactive material transport, research and development, shipments, and exposure data. The main purposes of the data collection activities include: To serve as regulatory aids to the national competent authorities responsible in the Member States for the transport of radioactive material, both internationally and nationally; To foster the exchange of information among said competent authorities and international modal organizations; To support the continuous review and revision process of the transport Regulations and their supporting documents; and To assist in answering public concerns.