Vietnam: Requirements for the preparation and responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies

On June 30, 2023, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam issued Circular No. 12/2023/TT-BKHCN on preparation and responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies and approval of plans for responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies.

1. What are radiological and nuclear emergencies?

According to Clause 1 Article 2 of Circular No. 12/2023/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, radiological and nuclear emergencies (hereinafter referred to as “emergencies”) refer to the state of losing radiation safety; nuclear safety; security for radiation sources, nuclear materials, and nuclear equipment.

2. Requirements for the preparation and responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies

According to Clause 2 Article 3 of Circular No. 12/2023/TT-BKHCN, responsive actions must:

- Be able to control the development of the emergency, reducing the severity of the consequences;

- Protect human lives;

- Prevent or reduce severe deterministic effects;

- Provide initial aid and treatment for victims;

- Minimize risks of stochastic effects;

- Provide information and ensure the faith of the public;

- Provide the maximum prevention of the possibility of non-radioactive consequences for individuals and the public;

- Minimize damage to assets and the environment;

- Facilitate long-term emergency remedies and the development of plans to bring economic and social activities to their normal state.

(Currently, according to Circular No. 25/2014/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, requirements for the preparation and responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies are specified as follows:

Emergency responses should meet following requirements:

- Capable of controlling emergencies;

- Prevent and minimize adverse consequences;

- Prevent likely occurrence of deterministic biological effects on responders and the public;

- Provide first aids;

- Minimize likely occurrence of stochastic biological effects on health of the public;

- Minimize likely occurrence of non-radioactive consequences to individuals and public;

- Minimize damage caused to properties and environment;

- Create favorable conditions for long-term remedial work and for the establishment of plans for bringing socio-economic activities back to normal.)

3. Principles of the preparation and responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies

Preparation and responses to emergencies shall comply with the following principles:

- Benefits from protective actions must outweigh the damage of such actions;

- Methods, scale, and application time of proactive actions must be optimal to achieve maximum benefits;

- Developed plans to respond to emergencies must be promptly implemented, managed, controlled, and cooperated synchronously and effectively from the grassroots level to provincial and national levels;

- The assignment of responsibility between participating organizations and individuals must be clear and evident; directives on responses to emergencies must follow the concentrated uniformity principle;

- Preparation and responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies must be in sync with preparation and responses to other emergencies.

(Clause 1 Article 3 of Circular No. 12/2023/TT-BKHCN)

4. Tasks and powers of the radiation and nuclear safety agency

According to Article 8 of the Law on Atomic Energy 2008 of Vietnam, the radiation and nuclear safety agency under the Science and Technology Ministry shall assist the Minister in performing the following tasks and exercising the following powers:

- Elaborating draft legal documents on radiation and nuclear safety;

- Organizing the declaration of radioactive substances, radiation equipment nuclear material, nuclear equipment, and the grant of licenses to perform radiation jobs according to its competence;

- Assessing and organizing the assessment of radiation and nuclear safety;

- Inspecting, examining, and handling violations of regulations on radiation and nuclear safety; ordering cessation of radiation jobs according toits competence; proposing competent state agencies to suspend the operation of research nuclear reactors or nuclear power plants upon detecting signs of unsafety;

- Organizing nuclear control activities under law;

- Participating in dealing with radiation or nuclear incidents according to its competence;

- Building and updating a national system of information on radiation and nuclear safety;

- Organizing and coordinating with other agencies in organizing professional training, retraining or guidance on radiation and nuclear safety;

- Organizing activities of international cooperation in radiation and nuclear safety.

Circular No. 12/2023/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam takes effect from August 18, 2023 and replaces Circular No. 25/2014/TT-BKHCN.

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