Uzbekistan adopts bill on radioactive waste management

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has adopted a bill on radioactive waste management. The legislation establishes mechanisms to ensure safety at all stages of handling radioactive waste and provides measures to protect people, property and the environment from its harmful effects.

The bill requires mandatory state registration and monitoring of all radioactive waste in Uzbekistan. A state register of radioactive waste is also to be established to systematize information on its quantity, location and movement.

Such registration is expected to reduce the risks of loss, unauthorized use or theft of radioactive waste.

A separate set of provisions establishes safety requirements for the siting, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of facilities intended for the storage and disposal of radioactive waste.

The bill also defines procedures for financing the relevant measures. Costs associated with the safe management of radioactive waste will be borne by the entities that generated the waste or own it.

During consideration of the document, lawmakers said adoption of the bill should contribute to improving state oversight of radioactive waste management, introducing modern safety mechanisms and strengthening the protection of people and the environment.

Following consideration, the Legislative Chamber adopted the bill.