Office of Legal Affairs

IAEA Handbook on Nuclear Law

The International Atomic Energy Agency is pleased to announce the publication of its new

Handbook on Nuclear Law

The Handbook provides IAEA Member States with

  • - a resource for assessing the adequacy of their national legal frameworks governing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and
  • - practical guidance for governments in efforts to enhance their laws and regulations, in harmonizing them with internationally recognized standards, and in meeting their obligations under relevant international instruments

The Handbook responds to the growing demand from many national governments for assistance in the development of nuclear legislation and the need to harmonize their own legal and institutional arrangements with international standards. It also presents concise and authoritative instructional materials for teaching professionals (lawyers, scientists, engineers, health and radiation protection workers, government administrators) on the basic elements of a sound framework for managing and regulating nuclear energy.

The Handbook is organized into five general parts:

  • - Part I provides a general overview of key concepts in the field: nuclear energy law and the legislative process; the regulatory authority; and the fundamental regulatory activities of licensing, inspection and enforcement
  • - Part II deals with radiation protection
  • - Part III covers various subjects arising from nuclear and radiation safety: radiation sources, nuclear installations, emergency preparedness and response, mining and milling, transportation, and waste and spent fuel
  • - Part IV addresses the topic of nuclear liability and coverage
  • - Part V moves to non-proliferation and security-related subjects: safeguards, export and import controls, and physical protection

The Handbook also reflects and refers to the extensive range of IAEA Safety Standards covering all fields relevant to peaceful nuclear technology.

The authors of the Handbook are Carlton Stoiber, a lawyer with over thirty years’ experience in the U.S. government in nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security; Alec Baer, professor of science and engineering at the University of Ottawa and former Chairman of the Board of Governors and the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group (INSAG); Norbert Pelzer, professor of nuclear law at the University of Goettingen and a recognized expert in nuclear liability; and Wolfram Tonhauser, coordinator of the IAEA’s Nuclear Legislative Assistance activities.