An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of senior regulators today concluded a 10-day mission to review Croatia’s regulatory framework for radiation safety.

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team made recommendations and suggestions to the Government and the State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety (SORNS) to help strengthen the effectiveness of Croatia’s regulatory framework and functions in line with IAEA Safety Standards. The mission included site visits to observe inspections and hold interviews and discussions with staff from the Government, the regulator and other organizations.

The Government’s invitation to host the review demonstrated Croatia's commitment to improving radiation and nuclear safety infrastructure, and to learning from international experience, said Pil-Soo Hahn, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety.

The 10-member review team, led by Olga Makarovska, Counsellor to the Chairman of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate in Ukraine, comprised experts from Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovenia,? as well as IAEA Staff.

"Croatia is moving in the right direction in strengthening regulatory processes and improving the management of radiation safety, and the Government recognizes that legislative and structural changes are needed in order to completely fulfil their regulatory responsibilities,” Ms Makarovska said. “This mission helps the Government to prioritize work that will improve the radiation safety infrastructure for the Croatian public, radiation workers, patients and environment."

The IRRS team identified recommendations and suggestions where improvements in radiation safety regulation are necessary, including:

• Reviewing and strengthening the governmental, legal and regulatory framework to make it consistent with IAEA Safety Standards, in particular establishing and implementing a graded approach in all regulatory processes.

• Providing SORNS with the necessary human and financial resources to discharge effectively its statutory obligations and responsibilities.
• Strengthening SORNS staff qualifications and competence for effectively performing its regulatory functions.
• Establishment of an integrated management system in line with IAEA Safety Standards to achieve stable and consistent regulatory control.? This system should include processes and procedures for authorization, review and assessment, inspection, enforcement, emergency preparedness and response.
• Improving patient?protection in medical exposure situations in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and professional bodies.

SORNS Director General Sa?a Medakovi? said the Government and regulator will work on the main challenges identified by the review team. “The IRRS mission’s recommendations and suggestions will help Croatia in strengthening the national regulatory infrastructure and framework in line with international safety standards and good practices observed in other regulatory authorities,” he said.

The final mission report will be provided to the Government in about three months.

About IRRS Missions

IRRS missions are designed to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the national nuclear and radiation safety regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the ultimate responsibility of each State to ensure safety in this area. This is done through consideration of regulatory, technical and policy issues, with comparisons against IAEA safety standards, and, where appropriate, good practices elsewhere.

More information about IRRS missions is available on the IAEA Website.