Belize Gets IAEA Check-Up on Radioactive Sources Management

International nuclear experts have completed a four-day visit to Belize to assess how the country is managing its radioactive materials to identify gaps and make recommendations to strengthen safety and security protocols.

The International Atomic Energy Agency sent a team to Belize from June 1st to 4th at the invitation of the Department of the Environment (DOE), as part of the country’s obligations under the Radiation Safety and Security Act, 2020, and its international commitments under the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.

During the visit, IAEA experts and DOE-certified personnel inspected several facilities across the country that hold disused sealed radioactive sources, materials that are no longer in active use but still require careful storage and management. The team assessed existing storage arrangements and issued recommendations for both immediate and long-term improvements.

Radioactive sources are used in Belize across the agricultural, construction, and medical sectors. The concern is what happens to those sources once they are no longer needed. Without proper management, disused radioactive materials pose real risks to human health and the environment.

The DOE says it is now working toward a national strategy and action plan for the safe storage of these materials, including identifying a centralised storage facility as a short-term solution while a long-term plan is developed.

A follow-up IAEA visit focused on establishing that facility is also being pursued.