Transport of radioactive material

Each EU member country produces radioactive waste, both over the life cycle of nuclear fuel, and for the use of radioisotopes in medicine, agriculture, industry, research and for educational purposes.

Therefore, their transport must also be subjected to very strict controls and respecting a series of rules to avoid release into the environment.

The EU has established rules and regulations that every member country must respect.

Shipment of radioactive waste and spent fuel

Radioactive waste can be in gaseous, liquid or solid form and is classified as waste because it will no longer be used, both in the country of origin and in the country of destination.

When radioactive waste is transported from one country to another, therefore it leaves the jurisdiction of the individual countries, it is subjected to controls and legislative provisions which must be recognized by both countries.

The EU's Directive on Shipments of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel (2006/117/Euratom) establishes a system of prior authorisation for such shipments in Europe. The directive:

requires operators to notify national authorities about shipments of radioactive materials which depart from, go through, or end up in the EU
allows EU countries to ship spent fuel to each other for reprocessing and organise the return of the resulting radioactive materials
allows EU countries to send shipments of radioactive materials that do not comply with the directive back to their country of origin
prohibits the export of radioactive waste to African, Caribbean or Pacific countries, to Antarctica, or to any country which does not have the resources to safely manage it

Reports on the implementation of the Directive:

The third report on the implementation of the Directive on the Transport of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel COM(2019)633 final
The second report on the implementation of the Directive on the Transport of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel COM(2018) 6 final
The first report on the implementation of the Directive on the Transport of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel (COM/2013)240

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To help and advice the European Commission on the transport of radioactive materials, a standing working group of national experts was set up in 1982.

This group on safe transport of radioactive materials in the EU exchanges information on the application of regulations concerning the transport of radioactive materials worldwide and makes proposals to the Commission.

The Commission Communication (COM(2006)102 final) (see on the side) introduced the fitth report from the group (see below), which recommended the implementation of a new radioactive waste transport safety programme covering six main areas:

supporting the international review and revision of radioactive materials transport regulations and safety guides
strengthening safety and security in the transport of radioactive waste with regards to the latest scientific and technological developments
progressing the development of emergency preparedness and response to prevent illicit trafficking in radioactive materials
assisting newer EU countries in the development and implementation of national regulatory infrastructure
promoting transparency by providing information to the public and the media
reducing the refusal of safe shipments of radioactive materials and removing barriers to competition.

Competent national authorities

Click on the link below to find out the competent National Authorities on supervision and control of shipment of radioactive waste and spent fuel.