An International Atomic Energy Agency team of experts today concluded a 12-day mission to review the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) arrangements in Hungary. The Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) was carried out at the request of the Hungarian Government.
Chris Dijkens, Director, International Enforcement Cooperation at the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment of the Netherlands, led the 9-person review team, which included experts from Canada, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal and the IAEA.
Hungary is generally well-prepared for any nuclear or radiological emergency. We commend the support and dedication of the authorities to nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response,” said Dijkens. "The self-assessment completed by Hungary in preparation for the review was thorough and objective, and our team was met with openness and transparency by all organizations involved.”
The EPREV team identified several strengths during the mission, including:
- Hungarian authorities are proactive in aligning their EPR programme with newly published IAEA Safety Requirements on Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency;
- A national High-Level Working Group in the Disaster Management Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee has been established to ensure EPR arrangements are up-to-date;
- The country actively participates in international emergency exercises and uses available peer reviews to strengthen its EPR programme.
The review team also highlighted areas where further progress is needed, including:
- Continuation of work towards harmonizing existing EPR arrangements with the latest IAEA safety requirements;
- More training of medical staff on diagnosing clinical symptoms of radiation exposure;
- Succession planning to help ensure sustainable availability of qualified EPR staff;
- Translation of more public information materials into other languages as required;
- Improving arrangements to protect workers that may be involved in emergency situations.
The Government of Hungary is expected to adopt an action plan to implement the mission’s recommendations and suggestions. “The findings of this review should support Hungary in further enhancing its response and preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergencies,” Dijkens concluded.
About EPREV Missions
EPREV missions are one of the peer reviews offered by the IAEA to strengthen nuclear safety in Member States. EPREV missions focus on the arrangements and capabilities to prepare for and respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies. EPREV missions aim to provide an open and transparent review while fostering a professional exchange of ideas and best practices among review experts and their national colleagues. EPREV missions are based on the IAEA Safety Standards in nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response.