Nuclear liability Nuclear liability is a broad term that has been used to mean all liability for damage that results from nuclear substances. This definition imparts a useful meaning to the term, but it does not match the definition used in laws, regulations, international conventions or insurance policies. Since the different legal regimes use different terminology, the contractual provision must be carefully tailored to the circumstances. The use of nuclear liability in representations is particularly dangerous because the parties frequently have substantially different opinions on the meaning of the term. For these reasons, and as an introduction to the complex issues of nuclear liability, it is useful to list the most commonly used legal conventions as references for further information.
Nuclear material See fissile material .
Nuclear waste Radioactive substances generated at different stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, which are considered to have no further potential use. There are also radioactive wastes created by medicinal use of isotopes. Several types of waste are categorised according to their respective levels of radioactivity and content.