IRRS nuclear team visiting Luxembourg;
Credit: MSAN
After 10 days in the Grand Duchy, the mission of the team of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has come to an end; the purpose of this mission was to assess the Grand Duchy's regulatory framework for nuclear safety and radiation protection.
The IRRS team of experts noted with satisfaction the commitment made by the Luxembourg authorities to further strengthen the regulatory framework for radiation protection.
The IRRS mission was carried out at the request of the Government and the team of experts was welcomed by the Directorate of Health, and more specifically, its Radiation Protection Division, in charge of the country's regulatory supervision.
Based on safety standards and international best practices, the missions are aimed at enhancing the efficiency of national regulatory infrastructures in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection, while recognising the responsibility of each country for the protection of the environment.
"Luxembourg has demonstrated its commitment to radiation protection and regulatory oversight by hosting the first IRRS mission," said team leader Isabel Vilanueva Delgado, chief of staff of the Secretary-General of the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN).
Luxembourg uses radiation sources for medical and industrial applications, as well as for science and research.
"The IRRS mission has given us the opportunity to engage in intensive and constructive discussions with experts from around the world," said Luxembourg's Health Minister, Lydia Mutsch. "Receiving an impartial view from the outside at a time when we are updating our radiation protection legal framework completely helps us to comply with international standards."
The IRRS team is composed of about ten specialists in nuclear safety and radiation protection from Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Spain.
They observed regulatory activities, visited a hospital, a customs office and the Civil Protection Operations Centre. Representatives of the team had a meeting with the Minister of Health, the Deputy Director of Health, and the Deputy Director of the Office of the High Commissioner for National Protection.
"Luxembourg has been well prepared to host this IRRS mission," said Peter Johnston, director of the IAEA's Division of Radiation Protection and Safety in Transport and Waste Management. "The mission should help the Division of Radiation Protection to effectively fulfil its commitments to continuously improve radiation protection and protect the entire population of Luxembourg."
The team also identified good practices, including active participation in international activities for the overall improvement of the nuclear safety regime and the preparation of Luxembourg for emergencies and their interventions.
The final report of the mission will be issued to the government in about 3 months and will then be made public.
