This publication, “Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material” (IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSR-6, Rev. 1), is an international safety standard issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It provides a comprehensive set of technical rules governing the safe transportation of radioactive materials, including spent nuclear fuel, by land, sea, or air.
The document covers the entire transport process, from the design and testing of containers to the handling, shipping, storage in transit, and delivery of radioactive materials.
This document is not directly binding law in the United States or other countries, but it plays a powerful legal role as a global standard-setting framework:
- It establishes uniform safety requirements to protect people, property, and the environment during transport.
- Its rules are widely adopted in international transport systems, including the United Nations Model Regulations and mandatory codes for shipping by sea and air.
- National governments, including U.S. regulators such as the Department of Transportation and the NRC, often incorporate these standards into domestic law, making them enforceable in practice.
- It provides the technical basis for licensing, compliance, and enforcement decisions related to nuclear material transport.
