Radiation Protection Stakeholders

Actors and foundations of radiation protection regulations

Radiation protection rules are not specific to France, but result from guidelines provided at the global level. Standards, norms or recommendations are established internationally by various organizations. Several actors contribute to the development of radiation protection rules and their legal framework.

– The “United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation”, UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation), is composed of high-level experts representing the countries concerned. This committee regularly publishes reports on exposure to natural and artificial radiation that take into account the evolution of knowledge and professional experience.

– The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) goes further by publishing recommendations on the protection of workers, the public and patients against ionizing radiation. A non-governmental organization, the ICRP is also composed of experts from various disciplines from around the world. Its recommendations are based on UNSCEAR reports and take into account the state of knowledge. The ICRP published in 2007 new guidelines updating the previous ones, ICRP60, published in 1991.

– The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regularly publishes and revises standards in the fields of nuclear safety and radiation protection based on ICRP recommendations. It collaborates in the publication of international standards for protection against ionizing radiation and for the safety of radioactive sources with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other major organizations. The IAEA has also initiated a revision of the International Basic Safety Standards for radiation protection, while a new standard on fundamental safety principles was published at the end of 2006;

– At the European level, it is the Euratom Treaty that specifies how radiation protection standards are established, and defines the powers and obligations of the European Commission regarding their implementation in different countries. Euratom Directive 96/29 sets the basic standards relating to the health protection of the population and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation, Euratom Directive 97/43 concerns protection against the dangers of radiation during medical exposures, and Euratom Directive 2003/122 applies to the control of high-activity sources and orphan sources.