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General Conference Senior Regulators’ Meeting , 22 September 2011. How can International Peer Reviews Assist Member States?. Magnus Vesterlind Head, Waste and Environmental Safety Section. Introduction.
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General Conference Senior Regulators’ Meeting, 22 September 2011 How can International Peer Reviews Assist Member States? Magnus Vesterlind Head, Waste and Environmental Safety Section
Introduction • By statute the Agency is authorized to develop international standards for the safety and protection of health, environment and property against ionizing radiation and for assisting in their application in Member States. • Peer review is one of the means to support application of safety standards
Background • Established on the request of the Member States • Assess alignment with safety standards • Identify good practices • Independent process • Internationally high level recognized experts • Provide recommendations for improvement • Unless requested by the Member State results are publically available • Not meant to cover a whole programme but part(s) of a programme • Not meant to replace national evaluation, neither to give a license
Examples of review services in the IAEA • IRRS: Integrated Regulatory Review Services – to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the regulatory infrastructure • OSART: Operational SAfety Review Team – in-depth review of operational safety performance at nuclear power plants
Review services in the field of RWM • Apart from IRRS, in the field of RWM • Independent peer reviews • Advisory and expert missions • WATRP missions: Waste Management Assessment and Technical Review Program • Joint Convention Review Process: Review Meetings are a form of peer review by the Contracting parties
How are PR assisting Member States? • Peer reviews can cover • National policies and strategies • Regulatory framework • The programme in relation to the licensing process or during its implementation • Peer reviews allow broader views than national opinion • Build/strengthen confidence at the national level for all stakeholders and in neighbouring countries and internationally • Assist in the development and implementation of a programme
How are PR assisting Member States? (cont’) • Increased importance of and need for peer reviews • Peer reviews already constitute an effective means to assist Member States – Encourage Member States to realize the benefits of peer reviews and to request them • EC Directive on waste and spent fuel management: “Peer review could serve as an excellent means of building confidence and trust in the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel…” • Member States shall […] invite international peer review of their national framework, competent regulatory authority and/or national programme with the aim of ensuring that high safety standards are achieved in the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste
Basis for peer reviews • Peer reviews are related to safety • IAEA safety standards internationally recognized basis for evaluating safety • E.g. the EC Directive recognizes the IAEA safety standards as “binding” for their Member States • Peer reviews should be performed vs. the IAEA safety standards
The organization of peer reviews • 3 main actors for peer reviews • The IAEA • The OECD/NEA • Self supported team in the Member States • Points of discussion • Respective roles of the actors? • Timing of peer reviews? • Who calls for the peer review?