International Conference on the Safe and Secure Transport of Nuclear and Radioactive Material

Background

The IAEA estimates that 20 million shipments of nuclear and other radioactive material are transported every year for peaceful applications in energy, medicine, education, agriculture and industry. The extensive use of nuclear and other radioactive material by countries enables them to develop their economies, sustain their societies, and address climate change challenges, therefore their safe and secure transport is essential.

The safe and secure transport of nuclear and other radioactive material is governed by international conventions, codes, and standards developed by relevant United Nations organizations. The IAEA plays a leading role as a specialized agency in developing safety requirements for the transport of nuclear and other radioactive material which are incorporated into the UN model regulations and modal regulations for the transport of dangerous goods, and security recommendations. These instruments provide a foundation for sustainable transport, ensuring safety and security. They also support Member States to have processes in place to efficiently and effectively implement regulatory framework and infrastructures at the national level and globally. This framework provides for internationally accepted standardised design of radioactive material and transport packages and a generic design certification approved by the competent authority of the country of origin.

Despite the existence of a well-established framework and its widespread adoption — developed over decades — certain challenges and difficulties persist. Today, all manner of products that we take for granted are dependent on the safe, secure and reliable transport of nuclear and other radioactive material from manufacturer to end user. It is vital that uniform global implementation or international rules and requirements are adhered to in the shipments of nuclear and other radioactive material.

This conference will also address challenges such as issues faced by some Member States in aligning national legal and regulatory systems to build robust, effective, and appropriate transport safety and security infrastructures. Other issues that will be covered are on how to maintain and ensure smooth supply chain systems and transport for nuclear and other radioactive material safely and securely, taking into account the different approaches and capabilities of Member States. Technological developments require continued assessment to ensure that the established safety and security framework is still fit-for-purpose.

To address ongoing, current and emerging challenges related to transport and to provide a platform for dialogue, the IAEA is organizing the International Conference on the Safe and Secure Transport of Nuclear and Radioactive Material. This conference marks the third in the series, following previous events in 2011 and 2021.

Target Audience

Participation in the conference is solicited from policy makers, regulatory bodies, government officials, potential users and operators, relevant industries and technology holders, technical support organizations, representatives of international organizations, and technical and legal experts working in all areas of transport safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material including law enforcement and border control agencies. The conference is also intended for non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. The IAEA highly encourages the participation of women, early career professionals, and individuals from developing countries.

Greening

To demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, the IAEA will organize this conference as a 'green meeting' according to the guidelines of the Austrian Ecolabel.

There will be a focus on the areas of paper smart documentation, waste reduction and recycling, and environmentally friendly catering.

Conference App

The IAEA Conferences and Meetings App provides a one-stop access to information on the Conference, exhibitions and scheduled side events. The app also allows users to put together their own personalized schedule of events. Via this app participants will be able to view contributed papers and the latest conference programme, message other participants, and view PowerPoint presentations released after the event. Participants will receive an email inviting them to register for the app approximately one week before the conference.