Argentine experience on the application of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and the Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources

Argentine has shown, historically, a great commitment with Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, even before the international decision of developing and implementing a Code of Conduct, and the Guidance on the import and export of radioactive sources. In 1999 the Board of Governors of IAEA called for the development of a Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. The actual version of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources was approved by the Board Governors of IAEA on 8th September 2003. It replaced the version published in March 2001. In 2004 the Board of Governors of IAEA approved the text of the Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources. This document has been presented as a supplementary guidance to the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. It is important to remark the big international support for the Code and the Guidance expressed for a great number of States, even though its application and implementation is not legally binding. During these years, after the approval of these documents the International Community has been acquiring a great experience on the application and implementation of the Code of Conduct and the Guidance. IAEA has proposed, during these years, to carry out international meetings in order that States can share experience in the implementation of both the Code and the Guidance. The International Community has answered to these proposals, in general, pleased and thankful because the opportunity. Some of these meetings have been Regional. The first intention of this paper is to: share the experience acquired by Argentine in this matter, through some examples; remark the benefits for the region to which Argentine belongs, in particular with those countries with which Argentine has commercial exchange, on the implementation of the Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources; remark the importance of going on making efforts to encourage more States to act in accordance with the Guidance on a harmonized basis; remark some difficulties met in the application of the Guidance; and evidence some aspects on which it would be important to go on working with the objective of getting higher and higher safety and security of radioactive Sources levels. Is also in the scope of this paper to remark the importance of the assistance to the meetings and besides, especially in America's Community, improving communication between Regulatory Bodies on the Safety and Security conditions for the transfer of radioactive sources. (author)