Other than a 30-year-old ordinance, Namibia has no domestic legislation guaranteeing safety from radioactive material despite being a major producer and exporter of radioactive uranium.

Namibia is also a user of medical equipment that emits radiation.

Deputy Minister Richard Kamwi on Thursday motivated the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Bill to bring Namibia in line with international instruments on radioactive material.

The protection of radiation workers against excessive radiation is an important obligation under international agreements.

So, too, is the production, storage, export and transportation of radioactive material.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, a specialised agency of the UN on nuclear energy and radiation, expect all UN member states to comply with international safeguard agreements.

But this can only be done if the country has made provision in its domestic legislation for the protection of workers and the environment from radiation.

Namibia is a recipient of technical assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency through projects in human health, hydrology, animal disease control, crop production and human resource development.

The agency has provided the Ministry of Health with equipment for cancer treatment at its Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine departments at the Windhoek Central Hospital.

Namibian health officials are currently exploring the use of nuclear techniques in combating malaria and sleeping sickness.

Kamwi said the legislation would lead to further assistance from the Agency to Namibia because it would have the assurance that all radioactive materials were accounted for and that the environment was sufficiently protected.

The bill provides for the establishment of an Atomic Energy Board and a National Radiation Protection Authority.

The Atomic Energy Board's primary function would be to issue licences to persons to possess, import, export, transport, dispose of, dump or abandon any radiation source or nuclear material.

The National Radiation Protection Authority would be an independent body whose primary function is to register all radioactive material and to monitor the extent of exposure to radiation sources or nuclear material in Namibia.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  Fatal kicking case to Regional Court
•  MVA sues paralysed accident victim
•  Koevoet bases to be renovated
•  Campsites bring hope to Puros
•  'Koos Kombuis' in Walvis cell
•  Ulenga leaves Parliament to prepare CoD for elections
•  Chief /Gaseb does not acknowledge appointment by King Justus //Garoeb
•  German museum to return skulls
•  Big Brother Africa 3: E-mails - From You To Us
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Is Malawi going to clean up?
•  Court cracks down on 'struggle children'
•  Nearly a third of Namibians poor
•  Pupils suspended over porn DVD
•  NA approves US grant
•  Russian couple murder sent to High Court
•  Rain prospects for the northeast good
•  Housing Minister meets shack dwellers
•  Flood of applause for flood support
•  New deputy chair for chiefs' council
•  Special week for Special Olympians
•  Misa Namibia Media Awards 2008
•  Bret goes bust
•  Fruit fly causes loss of millions in exports
•  Knives out for Pohamba