The Republic of the Congo is in the process of examining a law regulating ionizing radiation and a law establishing a new regulatory body. The country is also considering joining the relevant international legal instruments adopted under IAEA auspices to which it is not yet a party. In this context, the Government of the Republic of the Congo requested an IAEA legislative assistance mission, which was conducted in Brazzaville from 1 to 4 July 2024.
The mission aimed to inform and raise awareness about the importance and benefits of adhering to relevant international legal instruments including the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency and the relevant nuclear liability instruments adopted under IAEA auspices. It also provided a broad understanding of all aspects of nuclear law namely nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and civil liability for nuclear damage, as well as of the elements of comprehensive national nuclear legislation.
Two workshops on nuclear law were organized, one at the Parliament of the Republic of the Congo and the other attended by more than 20 representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Forest Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Scientific Research and the Primature. They provided an opportunity to discuss and exchange views on international and national nuclear law.
The IAEA delegation met with the President of the Senate, Venerable Ngolo Pierre, and the President of the National Assembly, Honourable Isidore Mvouba, who stated that “we commend the IAEA for this legislative assistance mission which contributes greatly to strengthening the cooperation between the IAEA and the Republic of the Congo, as well as our legal framework”.
This event was carried out within the framework of the IAEA Legislative Assistance Programme under the Interregional Technical Cooperation project for legislative assistance.
