Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Egypt (Ratification: 1964)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government's report in reply to its previous comments. It notes that Order No. 222 of 1986, issued by the Minister of Health, provides for the creation of a commission to examine proposed amendments to Act No. 59 of 1960 concerning the organisation of the use of ionising radiations and the protection against the hazards due to their use. The Committee requests the Government to provide full particulars on the establishment of this commission and to indicate whether the commission is currently studying any proposed amendments to Act No. 59. In this regard, the Committee would call the Government's attention to its General Observation under this Convention which sets forth, inter alia, the revised exposure limits established on the basis of new physiological findings by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in its 1990 Recommendations (Publication No. 60). The Committee would recall that, under Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention, all appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure effective protection of workers against ionising radiations and to review maximum permissible doses of ionising radiations in the light of current knowledge. The Government is requested to indicate the steps taken or being considered in relation to the matters raised in the conclusions to the General Observation and to provide a copy of any texts adopted to amend Act No. 59.

2. The Committee notes with regret that the information provided in the Government's report contains no reply to its General Observation of 1987. The Committee would now call the Government's attention to paragraphs 16 to 27 and 35(c) of its General Observation under this Convention which concern the limitation of occupational exposure during and after an emergency. The Government is requested to indicate in particular whether, in emergency situations, exceptions are permitted to the normally tolerated dose limits for exposure to ionising radiations and, if so, to indicate the exceptional levels of exposure allowed in these circumstances and to specify how these circumstances are defined, and to report also on any further measures taken in relation to the matters raised in paragraph 35(c) of the General Observation.