Facilitating the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, ISIN at IAEA meeting

Legal and technical experts from 24 Member States including Italy, represented by ISIN, took part in the meeting organized by the IAEA with the aim of agreeing solutions to overcome delays and denials in the shipment of radioactive material.
The set of requirements for the safe transport of radioactive material for the international framework is set out in the IAEA Regulation 2018 edition (SSR-6, Rev.1) which in turn is incorporated into the modal regulations that apply to international transport by air and maritime and in regional agreements for the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail. Despite having a well-established international regulatory framework and excellent safety standards, problems relating to waste and delays in international shipments of radioactive material are continually reported by transport operators.

The Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established a Denial of Shipment Working Group (DoS WG) to consider options for addressing waste and delays in the shipment of radioactive material, in response to resolution GC(65)/RES/8 of the IAEA General Conference.
The meeting, held in Vienna from 15 to 18 July 2024, was convened by the Secretary of the International Atomic Energy Agency to solicit a discussion regarding the opportunity to adopt a Code of Conduct. An option developed by the Denial of Shipment Working Group, chaired by an ISIN official, implementing the recommendation adopted in 2021 in resolution GC(65/RES/8) of the IAEA General Conference. Despite the broad support of the participants, the document did not receive the consensus necessary for its adoption: alternatively, it was considered appropriate to adopt alternative facilitation mechanisms, such as the development of a joint declaration by the interested Member States, the continuation of work of the DoS Working Group, the full implementation of the initiative to establish National Focal Points (NFPs) and support for their functions.
The meeting was therefore an opportunity to formalize the establishment of the Italian Focal Point, allowing, to date, the creation of a global network of 50 NFPs.