| Chair(s): | Secretaries: |
Lucas MARTIRI (lucas.martiri@oecd-nea.org) George VARDULAKIS (george.vardulakis@oecd-nea.org) Mike WEBLEY (mike.webley@oecd-nea.org) |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* | ||
| Russia (Suspended*) | |||
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. | |||
| EU participation: |
The European Union (EU) takes part in the work of the NEA, in accordance with the NEA Statute and the Supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. | ||
| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement | ||
| Date of creation: | 01 February 2025 | ||
| End of mandate: | 31 January 2027 |
Mandate (Document reference):
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract of document NEA/CRPPH(2025)1/DRAFT
Background
Human and environment are recognised as strongly interconnected as evidenced for example, by several principles and goals for sustainable development agreed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations (United Nations, 2015).
The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) introduced a specific aim for the protection of the environment against the harmful effects of exposure to ionising radiation as part of the 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP, 2007): preventing or reducing the frequency of deleterious radiation effects to a level where they would have negligible impact on the maintenance of biological diversity, the conservation of species or the health and status of natural habitats, communities and ecosystems. The ICRP’s environmental protection framework was subsequently defined in Publication 108 Environmental Protection - the Concept and Use of Reference Animals and Plants (ICRP, 2008), with guidelines for its implementation in different exposure situations outlined in Publication 124 Protection of the Environment under Different Exposure Situations (ICRP, 2014).
The NEA’s report ‘Initial Views on the Review and Revision of the System of Radiological Protection’ (NEA/CRPPH/R(2022)1) elaborated five main themes and several cross-cutting topics that the NEA’s Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) considers to be key issues to target in the ICRP’s review of the system of radiological protection. The NEA report discusses areas within the system of radiological protection that could benefit from ongoing improvement, including environmental protection. The findings of the report were shared with ICRP and partner organisations. During discussion of the NEA report at the 81st meeting of the CRPPH, it was agreed to prioritise the integration of radiological protection of the environment into further in-depth review and incorporate it into the programme of work of the Committee by establishing a new expert group on the subject.
Objectives and Scope
The Expert Group on Radiological Protection of the Environment (EGRPE) will be tasked with conducting a targeted review to assess how the current system of radiological protection has been applied in the context of environmental radiological protection across NEA member countries, with the specific aim of identifying gaps, barriers, good practices, and areas for improvement.
The study will provide the CRPPH with an understanding of the implementation of the Recommendations in ICRP Publication 103 and companion publications (108, 114, 124, 136, 148) by NEA member countries and identify needs for improvement to be taken into account in preparation of the next set of General Recommendations.
The study will determine how the introduction of the specific objective on radiological protection of the environment has influenced regulatory, operational and policy decisions related to radiological protection, and will discuss the corresponding benefits and downsides.
Working Methods
The EGRPE will operate through plenary meetings and an ongoing, project-oriented work program. A Bureau, comprising the Chair and one Vice Chair, will lead and organize EGRPE’s activities.
In addition, the EGRPE will:
Membership
The EGRPE will consist of experts in radiological protection, as well as experts with specialist knowledge and experience in the field of environmental protection.
Interactions
The EGRPE will interact, as appropriate, with CRPPH and other NEA standing technical committees, as well as with national and international organisations and fora, such as the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA), the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and the World Nuclear Association (WNA), to ensure the application of the appropriate expertise to better focus EGRPE’s work and to avoid duplication of efforts.
Deliverables
The deliverables of the EGRPE will include:
