The ALMERA Network

The ALMERA network (Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity) was established by the IAEA in 1995, and is a cooperative effort of analytical laboratories world-wide. Members of the network are nominated by their respective IAEA Member States as those laboratories which would be expected to provide reliable and timely analysis of environmental samples in the event of an accidental or intentional release of radioactivity.

The IAEA helps the ALMERA network of laboratories to maintain their readiness by coordination activities including organization of meetings, by development of standardized methods for sample collection and analysis, and by conducting interlaboratory comparison exercises and proficiency tests as a tool for external quality control.

ALMERA currently (May 2011) consists of 126 laboratories representing 78 countries. The Agency's Environment Laboratories in Seibersdorf and Monaco are additional members of the network. A full listing of the current ALMERA member laboratories is given in the ALMERA newsletter.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Environment Laboratories are is the central coordinator of the ALMERA network's activities.

To facilitate interactions between the ALMERA laboratories, the network is subdivided into the following regional groups:

• Africa
• Europe
• Middle East
• Asia Pacific
• North and Latin America

Each regional group is coordinated by an ALMERA regional coordinating centre. The current coordinating centres are:

• the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) for Africa,
• the Radio-analytical Reference Laboratory of the Central Agricultural Office, Food and Feed Safety Directorate, Hungary for Europe;
• the Syrian Arab Republic Atomic Energy Commission (AECS) for Middle East.
• the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS, Republic of Korea) for the Asia-Pacific region, and,
• the Instituto de Radioprotecao e Dosimetria (CNEN-IRD, Brazil) for the North and Latin America region.