THE FACILTATION OF INSTANCES OF DENIALS OF SHIPMENT FROM AN IAEA PERSPECTIVE PART 1

The paper is divided in 3 Parts. Part 1 provides an overview of the new organizational structure put in place for facilitating the solving of instances of denials of shipment of radioactive material. In Part 2, the term denial and the reporting process are defined. The outputs of this process are entries for the database. The subsequent analysis of the reports and the database provide orientations to update the action plan. In Part 3, the benefits of networking are discussed, in terms of facilitation of denials, and harmonization of the practices and of applicable Regulations and sustainability of the transport of radioactive. Involvement of Member States and industry is requested to maintain this networking operational for the different issues related to the safe transport of radioactive material. Radioactive materials are used for medical diagnosis and therapy, sterilization of medical products, industrial purposes and for power production. These materials need to be transported from a production site to the place of use. In accordance with the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency to promote safe applications of radiation for peaceful purposes, the Agency publishes and periodically updates Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. The Transport Regulations which serve as the basis for many international and national regulations assure a high degree of safety. Instances of refusal to carry radioactive cargo and of permission to conveyances having such cargo aboard, despite conformance with the regulations, have been reported in recent years. Such delays in and denials of shipments of radioactive material for medical use can result in hardships to patients undergoing diagnosis and treatment with radioactive material and to others, who rely on products sterilized by radiation.