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exchanges and experience feedback between the various
Authorities. The plenary meeting of May 2015 was for
example an opportunity to discuss the lessons learned
from certain incidents, the implementation of the new
regulatorymeasures and the contents of a guide designed
to harmonise the practices of the various authorities
when examining the package model safety files.
4.4.2 Bilateral relations with ASN’s foreign
counterparts
ASNdevotes considerable efforts tomaintaining close ties
with the competent authorities of the countries concerned
by thenumerous shipments to and fromFrance. Prominent
among these are Belgium, the United Kingdom, Ireland,
Germany and Switzerland.
Germany
The French and German Authorities have decided to
meet regularly to discuss a range of technical subjects.
Numerous shipments cross theFranco-Germanborder. ASN
participates in the Franco-German technical committees
concerning the schedule for returning thewaste resulting
from the reprocessing of German spent nuclear fuel. A
new package is currently being designed in Germany for
the transport of compactedwaste. In this context, ASN is
involved in the definition of the packaging specifications,
equivalent to the safety option file in France, and it will
participate in the technical meetings concerning the drop
tests when the time comes.
Belgium
For its production of electricity from nuclear power,
Belgium uses French-designed containers for fuel cycle
shipment. In order to harmonise practices and achieve
progress in the safety of these shipments, ASN and the
competent Belgian Authority (Belgian Federal Nuclear
Regulating Agency - AFCN) regularly exchange know-
how and experience.
Since 2005, an annual exchangemeeting has been held by
ASN and AFCN in order to make a closer examination of
the safety files for the French package designs validated
in Belgium and to discuss inspection practices in each
country. In 2014, an AFCN inspector observed an
emergency exercise organised by ASN, together with
the Prefecture of the Vaucluse département, involving
a shipment of radioactive substances.
United Kingdom
Over the last fewyearsASNand theUnitedKingdom’sOffice
for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) have developed close ties.
Both countries underwent a reviewcoordinated by IAEA,
demonstrating the high level of competence of the two
authoritieswith regard to radioactive substances transport,
thus enhancing their mutual trust and confidence.
Against this backdrop, ASN and the ONR signed a
memorandumof understanding on 24th February 2006,
for the mutual recognition of the approval certificates
confirming the safety of radioactive substances transport.
Having successfully cooperated on theMemorandumof
Understanding signed in February 2006, ASN and the
ONR extended their cooperation on the following subjects,
through an agreement concluded on 27th February 2008:
•
licensing procedures;
•
inspections;
•
emergency procedures;
•
guides for domestic and international transport of
radioactive substances;
•
radioactive substance transport standards;
•
quality assurance systems.
Since 2006, annual discussion meetings have been
held by ASN and ONR, more specifically concerning
the examination of safety files for the package models
used in the United Kingdom and France.
Switzerland
ASN began bilateral exchanges with the Swiss Federal
Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (IFSN) in 2012.
ASN and IFSN meet regularly to discuss the packaging
model safety files and the checks on the prescriptions
associatedwith the correct utilization of these transport
packages. A joint ASN-IFSN inspection was carried
out to check the conformity of the transport of Swiss
vitrified waste in September 2015 (see box p. 360). An
IFSN inspector took part as an observer in the transport
emergency exercise of 1st October 2015.
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CHAPTER 11:
TRANSPORT OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015