Manila, Republic of the Philippines, 13 August 2026 - The Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) participated in the 13^th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM), held from 11 to 13 August 2026 in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines hosted the meeting as the 2026 ASEANTOM Chair, with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) leading the host country’s participation.

Established in 2013, ASEANTOM serves as a regional platform for ASEAN Member States to strengthen cooperation and regulatory capacity in nuclear and radiation safety, security and safeguards. Its annual meeting enables ASEAN regulatory bodies to exchange updates on national and regional developments, review ongoing initiatives, share regulatory experiences and good practices, and identify further areas of cooperation in support of the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.

Brunei Darussalam’s delegation was led by Yang Mulia Dayang Nur al-Ain binti Dr Haji Abdullah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of SHENA. Key discussions included establishing a new Technical Working Group (TWG) on Nuclear Safety and Governance to strengthen regulatory cooperation and preparedness amid growing interest in nuclear energy across the region. The meeting also discussed ongoing strategic collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support ASEAN Member States in further strengthening regulatory capabilities and frameworks for the safe and responsible development and use of nuclear energy in the region.

SHENA shared Brunei Darussalam’s progress and strategies in strengthening national emergency preparedness and response, environmental radiation monitoring, and inter-agency coordination for radiological and nuclear emergencies. SHENA also highlighted its ongoing contributions to ASEANTOM Technical Working Groups on environmental radiation monitoring, emergency preparedness and response, hazard assessment and radiological dispersion modelling, and nuclear and radiological safety and security.

The meeting concluded with the formal handover of the ASEANTOM Chairmanship from the Philippines to Singapore, which will assume the Chairmanship in 2027 and host the subsequent 14^th ASEANTOM Annual Meeting.