Post-accident management

A steering committee for post-accident management of a nuclear accident (CODIRPA)

Editorial revision 2026

 

At the request of the Prime Minister, ASN (Autorité de Sûreté nucléaire – Nuclear Safety Authority) has been coordinating since 2005 reflection work on the measures to be taken to manage a territory contaminated by a large-scale nuclear accident. This work is carried out within the steering committee for the management of the post-accident phase of a nuclear accident (CODIRPA). This is a pluralistic committee bringing together State services, expert institutes, nuclear installation operators, ANCCLI (National Association of Local Information Committees and Commissions) and CLI (Local Information Commissions), the non-profit sector and representatives of civil society.

Guide of “Recommendations for the post-accident management of a nuclear accident”

The approach followed by the steering committee for the management of the post-accident phase of a nuclear accident (CODIRPA) led to the development of elements constituting a first national doctrine for the post-accident management of a medium-scale nuclear accident involving short-duration releases (less than 24 hours), published in 2012.

Following CODIRPA’s work to better take into account lessons learned from the Fukushima accident, feedback from crisis exercises, regulatory developments and changes in international recommendations, a new version of the recommendations for the post-accident management of a nuclear accident was published in 2022.

This document now constitutes the basis for post-accident management of a nuclear accident in France. It is intended for both local and national stakeholders. Its aim is both to encourage reflection among these stakeholders regarding preparation for such a situation and to guide them in managing a real crisis.

After defining the different phases of a nuclear accident, the document presents the principles adopted by CODIRPA to support post-accident nuclear management. It then outlines the main actions to be implemented or initiated as soon as the emergency phase ends, as well as the main guidelines for post-accident management.