ASN Report 2018

During this campaign, ASN detected no major shortcomings, save exception, and considers that the organisation of radiation protection in conventional veterinary clinics is satisfactory on the whole. The radiation protection organisation should nevertheless be stepped up on the following points: ∙ ∙ the third-party radiation protection checks and the formalised processing of any nonconformities detected during these checks; ∙ ∙ the verification of conformity of the radiology rooms; ∙ ∙ the frequency of on-site visits of certain external Radiation Protection Expert-Officers (RPE-O). Alongside this, through its various oversight actions, ASN has seen the results of the efforts made by the veterinary bodies in the last few years to comply with the regulations and has noted good field practices in the inspected veterinary clinics, and more specifically: ∙ ∙ the presence of in-house RPE-Os in the majority of clinics; ∙ ∙ worker occupational exposure monitoring by passive dosimetry; ∙ ∙ the virtually systematic use of personal protective equipment; ∙ ∙ an approach, to optimise the conditions of the diagnoses conducted in nearly all the clinics performing diagnostic radiology on large animals. The extensive nationwide commitment of this profession to harmonising practices, raising awareness, training student veterinary surgeons and drafting framework documents and guides is viewed as very positive by ASN, which regularly takes part in meetings with the profession’s national bodies (more particularly the Veterinary Radiation Protection Commission) jointly with the General Directorate for Labour. 1.3.3  –  The other uses of devices emitting ionising radiation This category covers all the electrical devices emitting ionising radiation other than those mentioned above and not concerned by the license and notification exemption criteria set out in Article R. 1333-106 of the Public Health Code. This category includes, for example, devices generating ionising radiation but not used for this property, namely ion implanters, electron-beam welding equipment, klystrons, certain lasers and certain electrical devices such as high-voltage fuse tests. Lastly, some applications use particle accelerators (see point 3.3.1). 2 —  Regulation of industrial, research and veterinary activities 2.1  ̶  The Authorities regulating the sources of ionising radiation ASN is the Authority that grants the licenses, that will issue the registration decisions and receives the notifications, in accordance with the regulatory regime applicable to the nuclear activity concerned. However, to simplify administrative procedures for licensees already licensed under another system, the Public Health Code makes specific provisions. These concern more specifically: ∙ ∙ The radioactive sources held, manufactured and/or used in installations licensed under the Mining Code (Article L.162-1) or, for unsealed radioactive sources, those held, manufactured and/or used in Installations Classified for Protection of the Environment (ICPE) which come under Articles L. 511-1 to L. 517-2 of the Environment Code, and have a licensing system. The Prefect is responsible for including, in the licenses it delivers, radiation protection requirements for the nuclear activities carried out on the site. ∙ ∙ The installations and activities relating to national defence for which ASND (Defence Nuclear Safety Authority) is responsible for regulating the radiation protection aspects. ∙ ∙ The installations authorised under the BNI System. ASN regulates the radioactive sources and electrical devices emitting ionising radiation necessary for the operation of these installations under this system. Holding and using other sources within the bounds of the BNI remain subject to licensing pursuant to Article R. 1333-118 of the Public Health Code. These provisions do not exempt the licensee from complying with the requirements of the Public Health Code, and in particular those relative to source acquisition and transfer; they do not apply to the distribution, importing and exporting of radioactive sources, which remain subject to ASN licensing under the Public Health Code. Since the publication of Decree 2014-996 of 2 September 2014 amending the nomenclature of the ICPEs, some facilities previously licensed by Prefectural Order under the Environment Code for the possession and use of radioactive substances are now regulated by ASN under the Public Health Code. The requirements applicable to these installations are therefore now those of the Public Health Code. However, Article 4 of the abovementioned Decree provides that the license or notification issued under section 1715 of the nomenclature shall continue to be valid and deemed a license or notification under the Public Health Code until a new authorisation is obtained under the Use of electrical devices generating ionising radiation for veterinary activities 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 Number of veterinary authorisations Number of veterinary notifications Graph 4 236  ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018 08 – SOURCES OF IONISING RADIATION AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL, VETERINARY AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS