The Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources (Code of Conduct) is a legally non-binding instrument issued by the IAEA and applies to all radioactive sources which may pose a significant risk to individuals, society and the environment and assists States to develop and/or enhance regulatory control of such sources to ensure they are appropriately managed in a safe and secure manner throughout their lifecycle. Specifically, the Code of Conduct applies to Category 1 to 3 radioactive sources.
The Code of Conduct was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in September 2003 and in resolution GC(47)/RES/7 the IAEA General Conference welcomed the Board's approval, while recognizing that the Code is not a legally binding instrument. At present, 153 Member States have written to the Director General, expressing their political support for the Code.
List of States Expressing a Political Commitment
Here you can access Status list of countries (Updated 26 August 2025):
- that have a made a political commitment with regard to the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary Guidance on the Management of Disused Radioactive Sources;
- that have nominated a Point of Contact for the purpose of facilitating the export and/or import of radioactive sources;
- that have made available their responses to the Importing and Exporting States Questionnaire.
Supplementary Guidance
Supplementary to the Code of Conduct is the Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources and the Guidance on the Management of Disused Radioactive Sources.
-
Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources was originally approved in September 2004 and revised in 2011 (GC(48)/RES/10.D and GC(55)/RES/9). The IAEA General Conference welcomed the Board's approval; endorsed the Guidance while recognizing that it is not legally binding; encouraged States to act in accordance with the Guidance on a harmonized basis and to notify the Director General of their intention to do so.
-
Guidance on the Management of Disused Radioactive Sources was approved in September 2017, and in resolution GC(61)/RES/8 the IAEA General Conference, endorsed the Guidance while recognizing it is not legally binding, and called on all Member States to make a political commitment to implement the Code of Conduct and its supplementary Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary Guidance on the Management of Disused Radioactive Sources and to act in accordance with the Code and the Guidance.
Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources
|
Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources
|
Guidance on the Management of Disused Radioactive Sources
| |
|
|
| |
Recent News and Events
IAEA Code of Conduct: 20 Years of Progress in Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources
More than 270 legal and technical experts from 128 countries and four international organizations have convened this week in Vienna, Austria... (Link to Story)
| Import and Export of Radioactive Sources: 20 Years of Safety and Security Guidance
Tens of thousands of sealed radioactive sources consignments are shipped around the world every year for use in industry, medicine, research ... (Link to Story)
| Management of Disused Radioactive Sources: IAEA Safety and Security Guidance
Radioactive sources are important in cancer treatment and gamma radiography devices in industry and keeping them safe and secure is essential... (Link to Story)
| |
 (Photo: C. Villarreal Silva/IAEA)
|  (Photo: V. Tafili/IAEA)
|  (Photo: C. Villarreal Silva/IAEA)
| |
| | | |
|
