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contributes to public information. It
sends the Government proposals for
regulatory texts and is consulted on
the texts prepared by the Ministers.
It clarifies the regulations through
statutory resolutions. It issues
certain individual authorisations and
proposes others to the Government.
Nuclear activities are monitored and
inspected by the ASN staff and by
organisations duly authorised by
ASN. ASN contributes to France’s
European and international actions
within its areas of competence.
Finally, it provides its assistance
for management of radiological
emergencies.
ASN is run by a Commission of five
full-time, irrevocableCommissioners,
nominated for a non-renewable
6-year mandate by the President
of the Republic, the President of
the Senate and the President of the
National Assembly.
ASNhas head office departments and
eleven regional divisions around the
country. Its total workforce stands at
483 employees. In 2015, the ASN
budget stood at €80 million.
On technical matters, ASN relies on
the expertise providedby IRSNandby
the Advisory Committees of Experts.
About 400 IRSN staff work on
providing ASN with technical
support. In2015, IRSN thus devoted
€85 million to this work, equally
fundedby a subsidy fromthe State and
revenuefromataxpaidbythelicensees
of the large nuclear installations.
In total, the State’s budget for
transparency and the regulation
of nuclear safety and radiation
protection amounted to €176 million
in 2015.
ASNalso convenes pluralisticworking
groups enabling all the stakeholders
to contribute to drafting doctrines
and action plans and monitor their
implementation.
ASN is also committed to the field
of research, in order to identify areas
requiring further investigation in
order to meet the medium to long
termexpert assistance requirements
and improve nuclear safety and
radiation protection. It has set up
a scientific committee.
The 17th August 2015 Energy
Transition for Green Growth Act
(TECV) and the Ordinance of
10th February 2016 containing
various nuclear safety provisions
reinforcedASN’s duties and regulatory
powers.
TheOrdinance of 10thFebruary 2016
set up a sanctions committee within
ASN, responsible for the application
of administrative fines in the event of
any breach of the regulations.
Consultative bodies
The organisation of nuclear
security and transparency also
includes consultative bodies, in
particular the High Committee
for Transparency and Information
on Nuclear Security (HCTISN),
an information, consultation and
debating body dealing with the risks
linked to nuclear activities, the High
Council for Public Health (HCSP)
which contributes to the definition of
multi-year public health objectives,
evaluates the attainment of national
public health targets and contributes
to their annual monitoring, as well
as various commissions taskedwith
giving an opinion on draft regulatory
texts, such as theHighCouncil for the
Prevention of Technological Risks.
Outlook
Faced with unprecedented
challenges, ASN considers that
a significant reinforcement of its
human and financial resources and
those of IRSN is essential. Despite
the efforts made by the Government
since 2014 (addition of 30 posts over
three years and stabilisation of the
budget), at a time of extreme budget
restrictions, the current situation
remains worrying.
Regulations
03
The specific legal framework for
radiation protection is based on
the international norms, standards
or recommendations drawn up by
various organisations, in particular
the International Commission for
Radiological Protection (ICRP), a
non-governmental organisation,
the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) and the International
Standard Organisation (ISO).
At a European level, under the
EURATOMTreaty, various directives
concern nuclear safety and radiation
protection, in particular Council
Directive 2013/59/Euratom setting
the basic standards for health
protection against the dangers
arising from exposure to ionising
radiation and Council Directive
2009/71/Euratomof 25th June 2009
setting a community framework
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ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2015