IAEA Concludes Inaugural School of Drafting Regulations for Nuclear Safety
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has taken a significant step towards enhancing global nuclear safety with the successful conclusion of its first edition of the School of Drafting Regulations. This program, aimed at supporting Member States in developing and implementing national regulations for the safe management of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, brought together legal officers and technical specialists from 12 countries in Europe and Central Asia.
Over the course of the program, participants engaged in theoretical training and collaborative exercises to refine their draft regulations. The initiative not only provided a strong technical foundation but also facilitated discussions on how to align national regulations with international safety standards set by the IAEA.
The School of Drafting Regulations offers a structured program that includes extensive training, technical consultations, and iterative drafting sessions. Participants are expected to develop comprehensive, technically sound regulations ready for submission to national decision-making bodies. The program’s effectiveness was highlighted by participants like Margarida Malta from Portugal, who emphasized the importance of understanding the IAEA’s Safety Standards for radioactive waste in shaping national regulations.
The School was attended by legal and technical specialists from countries such as Armenia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Türkiye, who worked in country teams to align national safety regulations with international standards, identify gaps, and learn from best practices adopted by other countries in the region.
A key component of the program’s sustainability strategy is the establishment of a community of users through a dedicated online platform. This platform allows participating countries to share and review draft regulations, receive expert feedback, and engage in peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, ensuring that the regulatory momentum generated during the School continues beyond the program.
The successful completion of the first edition of the School of Drafting Regulations underscores the importance of international cooperation in nuclear safety and sets a strong precedent for future iterations. As the program expands, the IAEA plans to refine its curriculum, introduce new regulatory focus areas, and enhance its digital resources to benefit more countries in their efforts to develop and implement robust national regulations for nuclear safety.
