There will be a press briefing on Wednesday, 24 May 2006 at 10.30 a.m., in B0438 to report on the second review meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

There will be a press briefing on Wednesday, 24 May 2006 at 10.30 a.m., in B0438 to report on the second review meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

The critical need to solve the refusal of some shippers to deliver radioactive materials used in medical diagnosis and treatment is the focus of a technical meeting, 8 - 12 May 2006, at the headquarters of the IAEA in Vienna.

Because few countries produce the radioactive isotopes and sources used in medical applications they are dependent upon air and sea transport to reach hospitals and patients.

Some of the isotopes used in medicine have a very short life and are no longer useable if their delivery is delayed.

The problem is global and affects both rich and poor countries.

Technical experts and IAEA staff taking part in the current Vienna meeting will be available to take journalists′ questions by telephone on Wednesday at 10.45 CET. The briefing in Room C0355 is also open to Vienna-based journalists.

If you wish to participate in the briefing please e-mail your telephone number to p.rickwood@iaea.org.