IAEA called for Action on Nuclear Safety in International Ministerial Conference in Vienna

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a concluding session of an international ministerial conference in Vienna on 24 June 2011 expressed urgency to take appropriate action on the basis of lessons from the civil nuclear accident at the quake-and-tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan.

Amid rising global consensus, the authorities in Fukushima prefecture announced plans to distribute dosimeters to schoolchildren to continuously monitor their exposure to nuclear radiation at the grassroots and take follow-up action. Parents however continued to express concern over the public health hazard their children were exposed to since the March 11 accident.

In the mean while a Chinese research ship was detected within the Japanese exclusive economic zone. In this regard, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano mentioned that China should have first contacted Japan about any radiation concerns even if the ship was sent for collecting seawater samples in that regard.

IAEA promised widespread support for the systematic review of the safety of all nuclear power plants.

The Ministers of the IAEA member-states also recognised the need for a global nuclear liability regime for appropriate compensation in the event of a nuclear accident.