Security in the transport of radioactive material - Interim Guidance for Comment

While the IAEA has provided specific guidance for physical protection in the transport of nuclear material, its previous publications have only provided some general guidelines for security of non-nuclear radioactive material in transport. Some basic practical advice has been provided in the requirements of the International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionising Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources (BSS) [1]. These guidelines were primarily directed toward such issues as unintentional exposure to radiation, negligence and inadvertent loss. Recently, the IAEA published a document on the security of sources, which included some general guidance on providing security during transport of the sources. However, it is clear that more guidance is needed for security during the transport of radioactive material in addition to those already existing for nuclear material. Member States have requested guidance on the type and nature of security measures that might be put in place for radioactive material in general during its transport and on the methodology to be used in choosing and implementing such measures.