RADIATION PROTECTION BILL

RADIATION PROTECTION BILL: Order for Second Reading.

6.41 pm

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to

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move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Introduction

This Bill will repeal and re-enact with amendments the Radiation Protection Act (RPA), as well as make consequential amendments to the National Environment Agency (NEA) Act and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Act. The objectives of the Bill are (a) to transfer the roles and functions of the Centre for Radiation Protection (CRP), as well as the administration of the RPA, from HSA to NEA; and (b) to prepare for Singapore's ratification of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Additional Protocol.

Sir, allow me now to explain the proposed amendments.

Consolidation of functions on nuclear issues

Recent reports have pointed to the increased likelihood that countries in the region will develop nuclear power plants to boost their energy resources. There has also been a surge of activities under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) relating to nuclear safety and security.

In view of these developments, Singapore should rapidly build up its institutional and human resource capabilities with respect to nuclear safety, security and emergency response.

The Centre for Radiation Protection (CRP) under the HSA is the national regulatory authority for ensuring the safe use of ionising and non-ionising radiation in Singapore. The CRP administers and enforces the RPA and its subsidiary Regulations, which regulate irradiating apparatuses and radioactive materials through a system of licensing, notification, authorisation, inspection, and enforcement.

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At present, the responsibilities for nuclear safety, security and emergency response are divided between HSA and NEA. To avoid duplication of resources as well as to enhance coordination in technical issues relating to radiation and nuclear science, the Ministry of Health (MOH) (which oversees HSA) and my Ministry will transfer the roles and functions of CRP, as well as the administration of the RPA, from HSA to NEA. The transfer of the CRP is targeted to take effect on 1st July 2007.

This Bill is therefore required to give effect to the consolidation of functions, duties and powers from HSA to NEA.

Impetus for ratification of the additional protocol

This Bill also prepares for Singapore to ratify the Additional Protocol (AP) of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement under the IAEA.

The AP is a supplementary agreement that builds on the agreements that non-nuclear-weapon state parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) have individually concluded with the IAEA. It was developed in 1997 to strengthen IAEA's ability to verify non-nuclear-weapon state parties' compliance with the NPT. Singapore ratified the NPT in March 1976 and signed the Additional Protocol with the IAEA in September 2005.

Under the Additional Protocol, a signatory state is obliged to provide IAEA with information covering the management, import and export, as well as storage of radioactive materials in the state. The IAEA would also be granted expanded rights of access to information and sites, as well as additional authority to use the most advanced technologies during the verification process.

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Ratifying the AP would signal Singapore's resolve to co-operate with the international community to combat nuclear proliferation.

Bill amendments

To prepare for Singapore's ratification of the AP, this Bill introduces certain provisions to the RPA to:

(a) include nuclear materials with low radioactivity levels that are listed in the AP for control;

(b) provide inspection power to IAEA officers as stipulated under the AP;

(c) confer additional powers to officers authorised under the Act to obtain information, search premises, etc; and

(d) rationalise the penalty framework.

Besides repealing and re-enacting,

with amendments, the Radiation Protection Act, this Bill will also make consequential amendments to the NEA Act and the HSA Act.

For the NEA Act, the salient consequential amendments are to:

(a) include the "control of radioactive materials and irradiating apparatus" under the roles and functions of NEA; and

(b) effect the transfer of movable and immovable properties, which are vested in HSA and used or managed by CRP, and all assets, interests, rights, privileges, liabilities and obligations of HSA relating to CRP to NEA.

Last but not least, Sir, for the HSA Act, the key consequential amendment is to remove "radioactive materials and irradiating apparatuses" from HSA's role and functions.

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Sir, when the transfer of the CRP from HSA to NEA takes effect on 1st July this year, there will be no physical relocation of CRP for the time being. CRP's clients can still perform their transactions at CRP's office at Level B1, Block 2 Outram Road, until further notice.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

6.46 pm

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the motion to amend the Radiation Protection Act. I am pleased that the roles and the authority on this important area are now clearly defined and centralised to one agency.

The global political terrain is fraught with many challenges, and law-abiding civil societies may find themselves suddenly robbed of their peace and tranquility, and mayhem becomes the order of the day. The use of "dirty bombs" is an issue that we have to constantly keep at the back of our minds when we are handling radioactive materials, which can be easily exploited under the hands of fanatics and the misguided.

Centralising to a single agency in National Environment Agency (NEA) to handle radiation materials and manage the environmental concerns brought about by such will streamline all processes for control and licensing. Radioactive materials are used across a broad platform of industries and medical institutions, including some research facilities. There have been incidents in the US where radioactive materials from research facilities have been stolen. This can culminate in dire consequences, not the least of which is environmental contamination. We need to have stricter

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controls to ensure public safety is protected.

My key concern is: What is the relationship of this new agency, ie, NEA, with Health Sciences Authority? Will the Health Sciences Authority still play a role in providing advice on health issues? Can the agency deal effectively with the health issues concerned if there is no input from the medical experts from HSA?

We need not look back very far to remind ourselves of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died within three weeks of being contaminated with alpha radiation from polonium-210, the most common isotope of the element polonium.

Sir, it is also important if the Minister can share with the House how will the new amendment affect the current radiation control measures in medical institutions and research centres.

Next, I would like to speak on nuclear energy in the broader context. Nuclear energy is certainly an attractive proposition, if only they are used for peaceful means. But the technology is like a knife, which can be used to save lives when it is in the hands of the surgeon, but it can maim and kill when it is in the clutches of a murderer. Likewise, there is no telling when and how the power of nuclear energy will be exploited for non-peaceful means.

For example, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard has spoken in favour of the International Energy Agency's report on how to meet the country's energy needs. The report had said that the country could build as many as 25 reactors by 2050 and these could supply up to a third of the nation's energy needs. I am also deeply concerned about the nuclear safety issue, as our neighbouring countries, both Indonesia and Malaysia, are exploring to build nuclear power plants.

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In Singapore, we need to gather sufficient knowledge and expertise in this field, especially if our neighbouring countries are taking that route. The incident of the radioactive contamination of the atmosphere at Chernobyl in Ukraine in April 1986 is a prime example of what can happen when nuclear energy is not properly controlled. In the case of the Chernobyl disaster, many people died, a large number of people required treatment for radiation, and the area had to be evacuated and vacated for a long period after. The combined loss in human and economic terms is not something to be taken lightly.

The US was not spared either. There was the Three Mile Long Island Nuclear Generating Station incident which was caused by a partial nuclear meltdown in 1979. This happened when the core of a nuclear reactor ceased to be properly controlled and cooled due to the failure of control or safety systems. Fortunately, in this accident, there was no loss of lives but it required a massive evacuation of people.

These are reminders of the severity of the impact that any nuclear catastrophe can cause within a wide radius of the accident area. What is sometimes overlooked is the need to have proper maintenance and prevention to ensure that any nuclear accident can be prevented and, if they occur, there are adequate measures to respond effectively and swiftly. This would involve a whole gamut of experts, from the field response team to the experts to treat exposure to radioactive contamination. Is NEA equipped to handle nuclear contamination? Is NEA seeking technical assistance from other countries which have the know-how to assist us? What is the role of NEA in a "dirty bomb" incident?

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In Singapore, we may some day also be forced to look at nuclear alternative as the demand for energy rises, and so too the prices of fossil fuel. But, for now, for us, I believe we are better off exploiting biofuels as well as solar energy as alternative energy sources.

6.51 pm

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, Dr Lim has raised some questions of concern and I share his concern about building up local knowledge in terms of nuclear energy, as we have heard reports about countries in the region wanting to go the nuclear way. I would like to assure him that we will do our best and, to answer his last question first, as to whether or not we have the capacity, we are ramping up our capability as quickly as possible. For example, NEA is building up its capacity to carry out what we call "terrain decontamination" as a new function, something we have not done before but we need to know how to do this. In the event of an incident, of course, the Singapore Civil Defence will be the first to carry out their response to save lives and mitigate the impact. But once the area is secured and the situation is stabilised, NEA will then move in and carry out what we call "terrain decontamination" to restore the affected areas. It is this sort of new skill sets that we have to build up, in light of what Dr Lim has mentioned, and therefore we take this very seriously.

Dr Lim has also asked about whether the existing controls on radioactive materials would be affected. I would like to assure him that the amendment will not affect the radiation protection and radioactive materials used in medical institutions and research facilities.

At the same time, he also asked the question as to whether or not the health

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aspects would continue to be addressed. I would like to inform him that MOH is still in charge in terms of this particular aspect of it, and we will continue to consult MOH and HSA on the health-related issues.

Dr Lim also raised about the possibility of going nuclear. At the moment, I do not think so. But at the same time, it is important for us to build up knowledge on this area. While I agree with him that renewables are the way to go, we must keep all options on the table, in terms of understanding the environment around us and what are the things that we can do.

Finally, I agree with him, in terms of energy safety and security. But as I said earlier, this particular Act is to allow us to be ready to play our role, once we have agreed on the Additional Protocol. In fact, it will put Singapore in a better standing in the international community where we will continue to play our part, together with IAEA, to monitor the proliferation of radioactive materials in this region. So I would like to assure Dr Lim that, this being a new role, NEA will quickly ramp up its capabilities and we will continue to consult with the agencies. As to whether or not we will consult

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people beyond Singapore, a lot will depend upon the type of functions that we have to do. At the moment, since we are not going the nuclear way, there is no reason for us to consult in those areas of nuclear energy, etc. But, certainly, in terms of nuclear safety and understanding of the processes, we will build up that capability as quickly as possible.

Sir, I think I have addressed most of the issues.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.