More anti-terror measures needed at nuclear facilities

 February 28, 2015

IAEA: Japan needs more anti-nuclear terror steps

Feb. 28, 2015 - Updated 06:05 UTC+1

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency have acknowledged overall improvements in anti-terror measures at nuclear facilities in Japan. But they say more needs to be done to safeguard them.

The IAEA team, comprising 8 experts from the US and 5 other countries, stayed in Japan for 2 weeks through Friday.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority says the experts heard about anti-terror legislation and resources from officials with the authority, the National Police Agency and related ministries and agencies.

The experts also visited the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizokuka Prefecture and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's research center in Ibaraki Prefecture to see what's being done to make them safe from terrorism.

In a draft report that has not been released to the public, the IAEA team reportedly says that Japan's counterterror legislation and resources are robust as a whole and have greatly improved in recent years.

But the report also included recommendations and advice aimed at further improvement.

The nuclear authority says it believes the IAEA team appreciates the regulatory revisions made since the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011.

The regulation authority will review the current anti-terror measures after it receives the final report.