Senior Safety and Security Regulators Discuss Challenges of Regulating New Radiation Technologies

Nuclear regulators around the world share the common challenge of making sure that nuclear and radiation technologies and devices are licensed, constructed, operated and eventually decommissioned safely and effectively. At the Senior Safety and Security Regulators’ Meeting, at last week’s 66th IAEA General Conference, over 100 senior government officials involved in nuclear regulatory matters shared their countries’ experiences and good practices in meeting these challenges.

“Every time a new technology is introduced, the challenge for regulators is the same: what procedure do we follow? How will it be authorized and inspected? To answer these questions, we need to return to the fundamentals: the regulator’s role is to ensure the safety of the use of these new devices, and the radiation protection of workers, patients, the environment and the public,” said Aurelie Isambert, Head of the Medical Radiation Protection Expertise Unit, IRSN, France, and Chair of the first of two sessions during the daylong meeting.
This first session discussed the challenges of regulating new medical radiation technologies, through the case study of the introduction of the first proton/ion radiotherapy clinics in a country.

“As this treatment modality develops, it represents a challenge for the regulatory infrastructure that needs to adjust as the technology is implemented. This discussion will contribute to the establishment of good practices for the safety of ion therapy treatment facilities worldwide,” said IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security Lydie Evrard in her opening remarks to the meeting.

Proton/ion therapy uses charged nuclei of hydrogen or carbon to destroy tumour cells. In a presentation by Lisbeth Cordero-Mendez, IAEA Radiation Oncologist and Mauro Carrara, IAEA Radiotherapy Medical Physicist, participants heard that because proton therapy delivers less radiation dose outside of the tumour, and potentially lower side effects, it is a promising treatment for some types of cancers. Between 2009 to 2020, the number of such clinics in Europe increased fivefold, indicating growing interest in this technique. Worldwide, more than 100 facilities are in operation, and over 40 are in construction.

In complementary presentations, Maria-Luisa Ramirez, Section Head, Medical Area, Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, Spain, and Camila Salata, Head of Department of Medical Application and Research, DIAMP/CGMI-CNEN, Brazil described the experience of regulatory authorities relating to the establishment of the first such facility in their countries, including the specific questions to be addressed during the site selection, the authorization for construction, (including the design and shielding), commission, operation and eventual decommissioning. At each stage, regulators examine whether existing procedures are applicable to the new technology, or if specificities need to be addressed.

The second session of the meeting was focused on the Regulatory Infrastructure Development Project (RIDP), an IAEA technical assistance mechanism supporting countries in establishing or enhancing the national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety and for security of radioactive material.

“RIDPs project activities involve different IAEA resources, including expert missions, regional and national trainings and advisory missions in areas related to setting down national policy and strategy for radiation safety and security of radioactive materials. The RIDP concept has reached a sufficient level of maturity to discuss and showcase the achievements and challenges, and to receive input and feedback from the senior regulators attending this meeting,” said Evrard.

The Secretariat introduced the history, current status, opportunities and challenges involved with the RIDP. Three RIDPs on safety and security are currently ongoing in Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa. The meeting heard presentations by Canada, Comoros, Ethiopia, Jordan, Spain, the United States, and Uruguay to share national experiences.

Nathalie Semblat, Deputy Director, Nuclear and Radiological Security, Global Affairs Canada, which has funded the IAEA’s pilot RIDP project in Latin America, described the project as a “win win for stakeholders: comprehensive capacity building for beneficiary states, more efficient provision of assistance by the IAEA, more effective use of donor funding. RIDP has become the new template for nuclear security and radiation safety assistance.”

The Senior Regulators’ Meeting is an annual event organized by the Agency during the General Conference. It is a forum for exchange of information on current regulatory issues, trends and good practices among senior government officials involved in regulatory matters in the fields of nuclear, radiation, transport and radioactive waste safety and nuclear security. The meeting also focusses on IAEA Secretariat initiatives to support regulatory bodies.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency