1. INTRODUCTION

The Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources provides objectives and principles to ensure proper control over radioactive sources from the stage of initial production to their final disposal. While major progresses have been made by States to implement the provisions of the Code and strengthen the control over radioactive sources, there are still several important unsolved issues, for which further international discussions and needed.
This TM will provide a forum for such international discussions on issued related to the long term management of sealed sources, once they reach the end of their useful life. There have been some regional meetings and workshops recently on that topic, and there is a need to expand the discussions and try to elaborate strategies.
The conclusions of this TM will be used by the Secretariat as input for the next information exchange meeting on the Code of Conduct and its Guidance on import and export scheduled for 2010.

2. WORKING LANGUAGE

The working language of the TM will be English. No interpretation will be provided.

3. PURPOSE OF THE TECHNICAL MEETING

The main purpose of the TM is to discuss legal and technical issues and possible strategies related to the management of sealed sources, in particular when these sources are reaching the end of their life cycle. The management of sealed sources detected at borders or during transport will also be addressed.

4. PARTICIPANTS

This TM is intended for legal and technical experts from Member States involved in the regulatory control of radioactive sources and in the implementation of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.

5. TOPICS OF THE WORKSHOP

• Discussion on the return of used sources to their country of origin;
• Discussion on storage of used sources in the country of use;
• Discussion on managing orphan sources detected at borders or during transport;
• Discussion on possible international strategies to covers those situations where regulatory control of sources is still weak.

6. VISAS

Designated participants who require a visa to enter Austria or any other Schengen State should submit the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of that State as soon as possible. In the case of Austria, persons who require a visa have to apply for a Schengen visa at least 14 days before entry into Austria. In States where Austria has no diplomatic mission, visas can be obtained from the consular authority of a Schengen Partner State representing Austria in the country in question. The Schengen States are as of December 2007, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
The necessary arrangements for accompanying hardware/software should also be made as soon as possible.

7. EXPENDITURE

The costs of the TM are borne by the IAEA; no registration fee is charged to participants.
Owing to budgetary constraints, the IAEA is not in a position to bear the travel and other costs of nominated participants in this meeting. Limited funds may, however, be available to help cover the cost of some of the participants. Such assistance may be offered, upon specific request, to one participant per country, provided that, in the IAEA’s view, this participant will make an important contribution to the meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of nominating the participant.

8. APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Nominations should be submitted on Participation Form. Completed forms should be endorsed by and returned through the official channels. They must be received by the IAEA not later than 31 March 2008.
Nominations received after that date or applications sent directly by individuals or by private institutions can not be considered. Nominating Governments will be informed in due course of the names of the selected candidates and at that time full details will be given on the procedures to be followed with regard to administrative and financial matters.
For Member States receiving technical cooperation, applications for financial support should be made at the time of nominating the participant, using the grant application form.

9. LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Technical Meeting will be held in MOE 6, at the IAEA’s Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, and will start on Monday, 29 June 2009 at 9.30 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 01 July 2009. You are kindly requested to be at Checkpoint 1/Gate 1 of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) at least half an hour before the meeting starts to allow adequate time for your photo badge to be issued. Please bring some form of a personal identification with you, such as a national passport, so you can identify yourself to the Security Officers at Checkpoint 1.
The Technical Meeting agenda and local details, together with information on local arrangements, will be sent to designated participants when the completed participation forms have been received.

10. IAEA SECRETARIAT

The IAEA Scientific Secretaries for the meeting are:

1. Mr Hilaire Mansoux, Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety
Tel: +43-1-2600 24272
Email: H.Mansoux@iaea.org

2. Mr Wolfram Tonhauser, Office of Legal Affairs
Tel: +43-1-2600 21506
Email: W.Tonhauser@iaea.org

Address: International Atomic Energy Agency
PO Box 100, Wagramer Strasse 5
1400 Vienna, Austria