Senior Regulators Meeting
Technical Cooperation Programme
Supporting Radiation Safety Infrastructure in
Member States
19 September 2013
Ali Boussaha
Director, Division for Asia and the Pacific
Department of Technical Cooperation
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
IAEA TC’s Main Programme Areas Significance of IAEA Technology Transfer
 Human Health
 Food and Agriculture
 Water and Environment
 Industrial Applications
 Sustainable Energy
 Safety and Security
IAEA
IAEA Statute
•
Art. III.A.6. The Agency is authorized (...) to establish or adopt,
(…), standards of safety for protection of health and minimization of
danger to life and property …; and to provide for the application of
these standards, (…) to operations under any bilateral or multilateral
arrangements…
•
A. With respect to any Agency project, … the Agency shall have the
following rights and responsibilities …:
•
XII.A.2. To require the observance of any health and safety
measures prescribed by the Agency;
IAEA
Guiding Principles Governing the
Provision of IAEA Technical Assistance
INFCIR/267 – The Revised Guiding Principles and General
Operating Rules to Govern the Provision of Technical
Assistance by the Agency (1979)
A.1h) The Agency's Safety Standards and
Measures (INF/CIRC/18)/ shall be applied, where
relevant, to operations making use of technical assistance
provided.
IAEA
Revised Supplementary Agreement
(RSA)
Revised Supplementary Agreement Concerning the Provision of Technical
Assistance by the International Atomic Energy Agency to the Government
of [Member State]
The RSA is an arrangement for delivering cooperation to Member States.
It describes the responsibility of the Government and the Agency.
The Government shall apply to the operations making use of the
technical assistance provided to it pursuant to this Agreement the
Agency's Safety Standards and Measures defined in document
INFCIRC/18/Rev.1 and the applicable safety standards …
IAEA
5
Key Principles of the TC Programme
Contributes to development goals
Responding to Member States needs and demands
Peaceful use undertaking
Safety and security
Member State ownership and shared responsibility
Cooperation among Member States and with partners
IAEA
Board Resolutions
(GOV/1999/67 and GOV/2001/48) for the provision of radiation
sources or any equipment involving the use of radiation sources
• Milestone 1: Establishment of a regulatory framework;
• Milestone 2: Establishment of occupational exposure control, and
• Milestone 3: Establishment of medical exposure control.
Board Document GOV/1999/67
 to provide, … Specific Assistance Packages for further
enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of national
radiation protection infrastructures through national, regional
and interregional projects ….
IAEA
2002 Review of the TC Strategy
(GOV/INF/2002/8/Mod 1)
The Agency helps Member States to establish the legal
and technical infrastructure needed to ensure appropriate
national regulatory oversight of the safety and security of
the technologies transferred.
These efforts should result in appropriate regulatory infrastructures,
strong safety performance, high reliability of nuclear installations,
proper security of radiation sources, sound waste management, and
safe transport of nuclear and other radioactive material.
IAEA
IAEA Medium Term Strategy 2012-2017
(GOV/2010/66)
• Priorities for the strengthening of the TC programme will
include development of institutional and
human resources in Member States and supporting
stakeholders in the safe applications of nuclear
technologies to address development challenges.
• Assistance will be given to Member States in
establishing and strengthening their safety
and regulatory infrastructures, in line with the
Agency’s Basic Safety Standards.
IAEA
Guidelines for the Planning and Design of the
IAEA 2014–2015 ….
Obligations of Member States
• 47. The Government acknowledges that assistance …is subject to the
relevant conditions ….. and agrees to apply relevant Agreements and
health and safety measures.
• 48. Member States should be aware that when proposed projects involve
the supply of radiation sources or radioactive materials, the
Secretariat will take into account the adequacy of health and safety
standards, as well as the country’s status regarding its radiation
safety infrastructure and the implementation of the International Basic
Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the
Safety of Radiation Sources.
IAEA
Radiation Safety Related Assistance to
Member States
Thematic Safety Areas (TSA)
TSA1 - Regulatory Infrastructure
TSA2 - Radiological Protection in Occupational Exposure
TSA3 - Radiological Protection in Medical Exposure
TSA4 - Public and Environmental Radiological Protection
TSA5 - Emergency Preparedness and Response
TSA6 - Education and Training in Radiological Protection
TSA7 - Transport Safety
IAEA
Radiation Safety Related Assistance to
Member States
Support to Member States encompasses:
• Establishing and maintaining an effective national regulatory
infrastructure
• Building and strengthening national capacities in radiation safety
• Promoting sustainable education and training in radiation safety
• Identifying gaps in national infrastructures (arranging peer reviews,
expert missions and advisory services);
• Facilitating access to knowledge networks;
• Strengthening national capabilities to respond to radiation emergencies
through national and regional projects
IAEA
National Regulatory Infrastructure (TSA 1)
TC activities aim to improve the regulatory infrastructure for the
safety and control of radiation sources in Member States:
Focus on:
 Streamlining national capabilities for regulatory control in
compliance with the IAEA requirements
 Establishing an independent and functional regulatory
infrastructure in a MS so that it meets IAEA Safety Standards
 Establishing and developing adequate and effective regulatory
mechanisms for the control of radiation sources in new Member
States
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Education and Training in Radiological
Protection (TSA 6)
Focus on:
 Supporting Member States in their effort to attain a core number of
managers, trainers and specialists in radiation protection
 Developing adequate expertise and skills required for sustainable
national radiation protection infrastructure
 Provision for continuous basic professional training in radiation
protection
Train the Trainers programmes
Post Graduate Educational Courses (PGEC)
IAEA
IAEA TC funding of TSAs (2003-2012)
Euro 128 million
TCF = 92%
EB = 8%
IAEA
IAEA TC for HR development in TSAs
(2003-2011)
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Outlook and Issues
• Application of radiation and nuclear technology is widespread
• Global increase in the use of sources of ionizing radiation, for
instance in the area of Health (about 25% of the TCP)
• Status of radiation safety infrastructure in many Member
States remains weak despite efforts.
 How to increase awareness and commitment of national authorities
and stakeholders of the importance of a robust safety infrastructure?
 In light of the prevailing situation in some Member States, how to
address the challenges of putting in place , in the shortest time
possible, fully operational regulatory infrastructure, particularly where
development of health related activities is an immediate goal (cancer
diagnostic and treatment by radiation)?
IAEA
The Way Forward: TC Perspective
 Key importance of infrastructure assessment and self-assessment:
 Need for enhanced approach to develop and implement country specific action
plans by Member States to address identified gaps in their infrastructure;
 Integrated tools and innovative modalities should be developed to adequately
support infrastructure assessment, identify gaps and define country-specific follow
up actions;
 Delivery of “Specific Assistance Package” tailored to specific
country needs
 TCDC/south-south cooperation and optimization of regional
networks (regional synergies)
IAEA
Technical cooperation:
delivering results for
peace and development
a.boussaha@iaea.org
IAEA
Thank you for your
attention