Pakistan subscribes to IAEA’s code on disused radioactive material

Islamabad has been voluntarily adhering to the Code of Conduct since 2005: Foreign Office

Pakistan has conveyed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) its decision to subscribe to the Guidance on the Management of Disused Radioactive Sources, the Foreign Office has said.

In a statement issued by Office of the Spokesperson on Wednesday, the Guidance supplements the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources which, although non-legally binding in nature, is an important component of the global nuclear safety and security regime.

The Code of Conduct, along with its supplementary guidance documents, seeks to help countries ensure that radioactive sources are used in a manner consistent with the highest standards of safety and security throughout their life cycle.

Pakistan, the communiqué said, has been voluntarily adhering to the Code of Conduct since 2005 and has put in place all the necessary arrangements and systems consistent with the recommendations of the Code.

Pakistan, it said, has been using radioactive sources in a safe and secure manner in several peaceful applications, particularly in the fields of nuclear medicine and radiation oncology.

“Pakistan's subscription to IAEA’s Guidance on Management of Disused Radioactive Sources demonstrates its continued commitment to the latest international standards in the areas of nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security,” the statement concluded.