Speakers
Description
The safe transport of radioactive materials is a key component of nuclear and radiological safety worldwide. In Ibero-America, this challenge requires not only robust technical standards but also coordinated regulatory efforts across countries with diverse infrastructures and operational practices. To address this need, the Foro Ibero-Americano de Organismos Reguladores Nucleares y Radiológicos (FORO) developed a comprehensive project focused on the Periodic Maintenance and Verification of Packages for the Transport of Radioactive Materials. This initiative highlights the region’s commitment to ensuring high levels of protection for workers, the public, and the environment.
The project identifies the technical and regulatory requirements necessary to guarantee the reliability of transport packages under routine, normal, and emergency conditions. It emphasizes the importance of establishing systematic maintenance procedures and periodic verification protocols that ensure the long-term integrity of the packaging. In doing so, it provides a harmonized framework that strengthens compliance with international safety standards while responding to regional needs and experiences.
A central contribution of the initiative lies in its methodology, which classifies package types, outlines their safety functions, and analyzes operational challenges identified during inspections. The resulting recommendations include detailed guidance on inspection frequency, maintenance records, and documentation workflows. Such guidelines are not only practical for operators but also enhance the ability of regulatory bodies to supervise transport activities effectively, reducing risks associated with non-compliance or technical failures.
The FORO’s role is fundamental in fostering this achievement. By bringing together regulatory authorities from Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and other member states, the project reflects a unique spirit of regional cooperation. This collaborative platform has enabled the sharing of technical expertise, harmonization of approaches, and development of common regulatory language, thus reinforcing the consistency and robustness of oversight across borders.
Ultimately, the project demonstrates how regional cooperation, under the leadership of the FORO, can strengthen nuclear and radiological safety beyond the national level. It establishes a model for sustainable collaboration, grounded in technical rigor and regulatory harmonization, that can be replicated in other areas of nuclear safety. In doing so, the initiative consolidates the Ibero-American region as an active contributor to the global nuclear safety regime, aligned with the principles, and cooperation, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international best practices.
