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Each day thousands of shipments of radioactive materials are transported around the world.

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Regulations

Internationally harmonised regulations ensure the safe and secure transport of millions of shipments of radioactive materials throughout the world each year.

Overview

Each day thousands of shipments of radioactive materials of all kinds are transported on international and national routes. These consignments, which are carried by road, rail, sea, air and inland waterway can range from smoke detectors, and cobalt sources for medical uses, to nuclear fuel cycle materials for electricity generation. The international transport of radioactive materials is governed by a stringent regulatory regime, which includes standards, codes and regulations which have been continuously revised and updated over the past four decades.

The IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material

The IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material set the basis for nuclear fuel cycle transport.

The IAEA Regulations are based on the fundamental principle that radioactive material being transported should be packaged adequately to provide protection against the various hazards of the material under both normal and potential accident conditions. Safety, therefore, relies on the package – on the packaging adapted to its radioactive contents, whatever the transport mode.

Because safety depends primarily on the package, the Regulations set out several performance standards in this area. They provide for five different primary packages, (Excepted, Industrial, Type A, Type B and Type C) and set the criteria for their design according to both the activity and the physical form of the radioactive material they may contain. The IAEA Regulations lay down corresponding test procedures to demonstrate compliance with the required performance standards.

“Over several decades of transport, there has never been an in-transit accident with serious human health, economic or environmental consequences attributable to the radioactive nature of the goods.”
IAEA International Conference on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, Vienna, 2003.

International and Regional Modal Regulations or Agreements

The provisions of the IAEA Regulations are not only reflected in the national requirements of Member States, but also in the regulation relative to each mode of transport as issued by international or regional bodies.

Safety Regulations for the Transport of Radioactive material

Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material SSR-6

Transport type:

  • All

Organisation:

  • IAEA

Scope:

  • Worldwide

Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

Transport type:

  • All

Organisation:

  • UN

Scope:

  • Worldwide

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)

Transport type:

  • Sea

Organisation:

  • IMO

Scope:

  • Worldwide

International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships (INF Code)

Transport type:

  • Sea

Organisation:

  • IMO

Scope:

  • Worldwide

Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (TI)

Transport type:

  • Air

Organisation:

  • ICAO

Scope:

  • Worldwide

Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR)

Transport type:

  • Air

Organisation:

  • IATA

Scope:

  • Worldwide

European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)

Transport type:

  • Road

Organisation:

  • UN/ECE

Scope:

  • Regional

Agreement of Partial Reach to Facilitate the Transport of Dangerous Goods

Transport type:

  • Road and rail

Organisation:

  • MERCOSUR/MERCOSUL

Scope:

  • Regional

European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN)

Transport type:

  • Inland waterways

Organisation:

  • UN/ECE and CCNR

Scope:

  • Regional

Universal Postal Convention and its detailed regulations

Transport type:

  • Post

Organisation:

  • UPU

Scope:

  • Worldwide

Find out more about Safety Regulations for the Transport of Radioactive material

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