Joint FAO/IAEA Division, Emergency preparedness

Emergency Preparedness and Response -- FAO's 2004-2005 work plan

FAO to make available data on line which are relevant for nuclear research (soil types, nutrition patterns, land-use, etc). This activity would be undertaken under the umbrella of the PAIA Rehab (whose programme of work for 2004-2005 includes one item on this matter) and PAIA SPATL, if some resources are available. AGLL, the custodian of most of these data, would lead this exercise. Expected completion date: March 2004;

FAO to set up an internal crisis management team to deal with this kind of emergency. This activity would consist of (i) formalizing the current FAO team, whose composition could be modified if necessary and (ii) developing checklists to implement the FAO IAEA Arrangement including how to communicate with AGE during the 24 hours following a large-scale nuclear or radiological event. TCES, which was nominated as focal point for AGE, would lead this task: a replacement would be nominated in place of Mr Laurent Thomas, alternates of the members would be identified and emergency procedures prepared. In this context, TCES should prepare a short note including an estimation of the required budget Expected completion date: May 2004;

While it is recognized that agricultural countermeasures would differ from one country to another, depending on national capacity, existing regulations, production systems, location of nuclear plants, etc., it is important that FAO assist its member countries to develop a strategy for promoting and enhancing preparedness for any nuclear event in relation with food and agriculture. Therefore, before organizing a workshop to assess the feasibility of existing agricultural countermeasures for two or three selected developing countries, FAO would prepare a note to be discussed on the occasion of the FAO/IAEA Steering Committee meeting to be held in Rome in March 2004. This note would place the workshop proposal into a broader context and within a medium-term plan. A set of options for selecting the case study countries would also be prepared. AGE, in consultation with the FAO team, would lead the preparation of this note. Expected completion date: March 2004;

FAO to prepare a strategic document which would serve as a basis for leveraging extra-budgetary resources. This document would include: a review of the analytical aspects of nuclear emergency in the field of food and agriculture, a typology of the concerned countries and proposals of strategy for each group of countries; AGLL/ECG Secretary would lead this activity. Expected completion date: September/October 2004;

FAO, in consultation with the other concerned agencies, to develop a joint communication strategy that would be tested at the ConvEx3 in 2005. GIIL would lead this activity which would be based on the results of the two previous activities mainly. This would a priori require staff time only. Expected completion date: December 2004;

In order to to convince member countries to adopt the two international conventions on nuclear preparedness and response and urge them to prepare emergency preparedness plans for agriculture in the event of a nuclear disaster, it is planned to include an item on this topic on the agenda of the next session of the COAG in 2005. A short document would need to be prepared in this context. Expected completion date: November 2004;

FAO to participate in the ConvEx3 exercise in 2005. This would consist of the actual running of the internal crisis management team in Headquarters. Resources would be needed depending on the number of persons participating. Expected date: 2005;

FAO/IAEA to organize a media seminar which would aim at briefing journalists on FAO/IAEA's involvement in agricultural countermeasures. This could also help to raise awareness among developing member countries. Expected date: at the same time of the ConvEx3 exercise.