A Regional Workshop[1] on the Formulation and Implementation of National Policy and Strategy for the Management of Radioactive Wastes and Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources has taken place in Manila, the Philippines, at the beginning of March 2017.
Clear national policy and strategy are essential for the effective management of radioactive waste generated from economic activities. Such policies and strategies form the basis for continued, concerted action to strengthen technical capacity and enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of national waste management infrastructures. The goal is to help participating countries to protect the environment from radioactive waste by upgrading skills, developing a well-trained pool of personnel and establishing quality management systems for handling radioactive waste.
Representatives from 13 participating Member States and entities in the Asia and the Pacific region including China, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines, together with IAEA officers from the Departments of Technical Cooperation and Nuclear Energy, attended the regional workshop. The event was organized by the IAEA in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, through the Philippines Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
The regional workshop provided participants with an opportunity to review the status of the development of national policies and strategies for radioactive waste management, identify challenges and opportunities, and to share specific experiences and good practices with other participating Member States. The workshop supported the development of country specific action plans, and participants outlined implementation arrangements for follow-up IAEA support under a regional project.
