Peer Review Praises ‘International Role’ Of France’s Safety Authority
Written by NucNet
Friday, 28 May 2010
A peer review and appraisal service led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded that France’s nuclear safety authority (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, ASN) is a “mature and transparent regulator” playing an active international role in the improvement of security and safety in the nuclear industry.
The IAEA’s peer review and appraisal service, the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS), carried out the review of ASN between 29 March and 3 April 2009 and ASN has now made public the results.
The review, carried out at ASN’s request, was coordinated by the IAEA and conducted by a team of experts from 12 national nuclear safety authorities. It was a follow-up to a similar review carried out by the IRRS in 2006.
The IRRS team confirmed ASN’s strengths including it being a “mature and transparent” nuclear regulator, having a strong policy for informing and communicating with the public, maintaining an international role, particularly at the IAEA, and executing a well-developed and comprehensive inspector accreditation programme.
