ASN Report 2018

∙ ∙ The Order of 3 September 2018 modifying certain provisions applicable to nuclear pressure equipment and certain security accessories designed to protect it Following the codification in the Environment Code of the provisions applicable to the in-service monitoring of nuclear pressure equipment, the Order of 3 September 2018 brought the various orders dealing with the in-service monitoring of this equipment into line with the Environment Code, while improving the way in which the two texts interface and interact. This modifying Order also clarified conformity assessment procedures and introduced a certain number of additional requirements based on experience feedback from application of the existing texts. Provisions more particularly concerning the accreditation of test laboratories or the conservation of material resulting from the manufacture of components were thus added. 2.2.3  –  Transport of radioactive substances ∙ ∙ Revision of the Order of 29 May 2009 concerning the carriage of dangerous goods by land (called the “TMD Order”).  The Order of 29 May 2009 concerning the carriage of dangerous goods by land (known as the “TMD Order”) covers the carriage by road, rail and river of dangerous goods, notably radioactive substances. It was modified by the Order of 11 December 2018 in order to take account of the changes to international and community regulations concerning the carriage of dangerous goods by road, which come into force on 1 January 2019. This revision also: ∙ ∙ incorporates new notification procedures on the ASN on-line services portal for events involving radioactive material transports on the public highway; ∙ ∙ specifies the contents of the radioactive materials transport incident and accident management plans mentioned in sections 1.4.1.1 and 1.4.1.2 of the European Agreement on the international carriage of dangerous goods by Road (ADR); ∙ ∙ clarifies the fact that the obligation to draw up a radiological protection programme mentioned in section 1.7.2 of the ADR applies to all companies involved in radioactive materials transport operations; ∙ ∙ specifies the procedures for use of the orange sign on conveyances corresponding to a single UN number which are not for “exclusive” utilisation. 2.3  ̶ ASN resolutions 2.3.1  –  Radiation protection ∙ ∙ ASN resolution 2018-DC-0649 of 18 October 2018, pursuant to 2° of Article R. 1333‑109 and Article R. 1333‑110 of the Public Health Code, defining the list of nuclear activities subject to notification and the information to be mentioned in these notifications This resolution extended the scope of activities subject to notification, more particularly incorporating certain activities using sealed radioactive sources, and set out the generic procedures to be followed so that the activity or equipment could benefit from this system. The activities concerned are grouped into four main areas: ∙ ∙ nuclear activities employing devices for medical purposes; ∙ ∙ nuclear activities in the industrial, veterinary or research fields involving electrical generators of ionising radiation; ∙ ∙ nuclear activities in the industrial or research fields involving sealed radioactive sources or devices containing them; ∙ ∙ activities carried out by third parties relating to the rehabilitation of sites and soils contaminated by radioactive substances. This resolution also repeals the old resolutions concerning the notification system (resolutions 2009-DC-0146, 2009-DC-0148, 2009-DC-0162, 2011-DC-0252, 2015-DC-0531). The resolution came into force on 1 January 2019. Until such time as they expire and if there is no modification to the nuclear activity, the existing authorisations prior to this date take the place of the notification required by the resolution. ∙ ∙ ASN resolution 2019-DC-0660 of 15 January 2019 setting the quality assurance obligations in medical imaging using ionising radiation This resolution defines the quality assurance obligations for medical imaging involving ionising radiation, that is to say in nuclear medicine for diagnostic purposes, in dental and conventional radiology, in computed tomography and for fluoroscopy-guided interventional practices. It obliges the person responsible for the nuclear activity to define a quality management system and to provide details: ∙ ∙ about the processes, procedures and work instructions associated with operational implementation of the two general radiation protection principles, namely justification of procedures and optimisation of doses; ∙ ∙ about the experience feedback process, by reinforcing the recording and analysis of events that could lead to accidental or unintentional exposure of persons during medical imaging procedures. This resolution enables the quality management system to be tailored to the radiological risks inherent in medical imaging activities and the radiation protection issues. ∙ ∙ Draft resolutions in progress In 2018, two draft resolutions concerning patient radiation protection were the subject of a public consultation. They concern: ∙ ∙ the diagnostic reference levels in medical imaging; ∙ ∙ continuing training of health professionals in patient radiation protection (modification of ASN resolution 2017-DC-0585 of 14 March 2017 concerning continuing training of professionals in the radiation protection of persons exposed to ionising radiation for medical purposes). 2.3.2  –  Transport of radioactive substances ∙ ∙ Revision of ASN resolution 2015-DC-0503 of 12 March 2015 relative to the notification system for companies transporting radioactive substances on French territory The transposition into French law of Council Directive 2013/59/ Euratom of 5 December 2013 led to a modification of the Public Health Code, with the various nuclear activities being split into the three notification, registration and authorisation administrative systems. Article R. 1333‑146 of this Code refers to an ASN resolution to specify the characteristics of radioactive substances, the transport of which is covered by a particular system, the exemption conditions, the composition of the authorisation application file, the examination procedures, and the renewal, revocation and suspension conditions. In early January 2019, ASN consulted the public on the guidelines adopted for updating its resolution 2015-DC-0503 relative to the notification system for companies transporting radioactive substances on French territory. This update aims to introduce an authorisation system for the transport of sources with the highest safety and security implications. Regulatory news 24  ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018