Federal states supplied with new iodine tablets

Iodine tablets

The iodine tablets for nuclear emergencies procured by the federal government have been delivered to all federal states. This means that 189.5 million iodine tablets are available to the federal states in order to protect the population in the event of a nuclear emergency. The tablets were financed by the federal government.

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) had ordered the iodine tablets in 2019 to replace and replenish the stocks of 137 million tablets. The tablets were ordered because of new recommendations by the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK). According to the recommendations, the radius within which iodine tablets should be distributed in a possible emergency has been extended.

Iodine tablets should be taken only when requested by the authorities

In a nuclear accident, radioactive iodine can be released. This can accumulate in the thyroid gland and cause considerable damage. This can be prevented if a sufficient amount of non-radioactive iodine is taken in the form of a high-dose tablet (i.e. iodine blockade).

To have the desired effect, the tablets must be taken at the correct time. Iodine tablets for nuclear emergencies should therefore be taken only after this is expressly requested by the civil protection authorities – and only in the dose indicated by the authorities.

Review of the planning after the Fukushima reactor accident

Until now, the distribution of iodine tablets was planned for people up to the age of 45 living less than 20 km away from a nuclear power plant as well as for all children under the age of 18 and pregnant women within a radius of 100 km. For medical reasons, the SSK advises people over the age of 45 not to take such high-dose iodine tablets.

As a result of the reactor accident in Fukushima, Japan, the SSK as an advisory body of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety reviewed the technical basis for radiological emergency protection in Germany and the associated regulations and published its findings in the recommendation “Planning areas for emergency protection in the vicinity of nuclear power plants”, among others.

Expansion of the planning areas for emergency protection

This review showed that a precautionary extension of the planning areas for emergency protection in the vicinity of nuclear power plants is necessary in order to be able to react adequately to even the most severe emergencies and protect the population.

Accordingly, the radii for the distribution of iodine tablets were extended to 100 km for the entire population under the age of 45 and to the entire federal territory for children under 18 and pregnant women. In addition, sufficient iodine tablets must be available to enable multiple intake if this becomes necessary.

The federal government procures the tablets, and the state governments distribute them

According to the emergency protection provisions of the Radiation Protection Act, which came into force in October 2017, the Federal Government is now responsible for the procurement of the iodine tablets. The tablets are therefore procured centrally by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry and handed over to the federal states. The tablets were delivered to locations designated by the federal states and are stored decentrally by the state authorities.

The respective federal states are responsible for storing and distributing the tablets. Depending on the concept of respective federal state, these are further distributed so that they can be issued quickly in the event of an incident.

Ordered quantity based on population figures

The order comprises 189.5 million iodine tablets in blisters of four tablets each. This package size is designed for individuals and takes into account that in certain situations, several tablets may need to be taken.

The number of tablets ordered is based on population figures reported by the federal states in the above planning areas or – for children up to 18 years of age and pregnant women – throughout Germany. In order to supply of commuters, tourists, and other persons staying only temporarily in an area, the procurement quantity was increased accordingly.

Corona pandemic affected delivery schedule

The first deliveries had already taken place in February 2020. However, in some federal states, the storage capacities and personnel were needed in order to be able to cope with the Corona pandemic. The delivery of the iodine tablets therefore had to be completely rescheduled and reorganised.

The costs for the procurement of the iodine tablets (approx. € 8.4 million net according to the current status) are borne by the federal government.