ASN Report 2020

∙ the need to increase the radiation protection of people external to the veterinary practice who participate in diagnostic operations involving ionising radiation. The conventional radiology activities performed on pets (called “canine activities” in France) involve lower radiation risks but represent a very large number of veterinary clinics. As part of its graded approach which consists in adapting the control methods to the radiation risks, ASN conducted an experimental control campaign in 2015 and 2016 which called upon new dematerialised control methods. The campaign was carried out in seven département s (Aisne, Allier, Aube, Cantal, Haute-Loire, Pas‑de-Calais and Puy-de-Dôme) and addressed 463 veterinary clinics. During this campaign, ASN detected no major short­ comings, save exception, and considers that the organisation of radiation protection in pet care veterinary clinics is satisfactory on the whole. The organisation could nevertheless be improved in the following areas: ∙ 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 by certain external Radiation Protection Expert-Officers (RPE-Os). Alongside this, through its various oversight actions, ASN has seen the results of the efforts made by the veterinary professional 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 associated operations in nearly all the clinics performing diagnostic radiology on large animals. Local in situ control actions are still carried out regularly by the ASN regional divisions, like the Strasbourg division for example, which in 2019 carried out some ten inspections of veterinary clinics that use ionising radiation. The extensive nationwide commitment of the profession to harmonising practices, raising awareness, training student veterinary surgeons and drafting framework documents and guides is considered 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 (DGT). 1.3.3 The other uses of electrical 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, 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, receives the notifi­ cations and will issue the registration decisions, 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. This concerns 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 (ICPEs) 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 he delivers, radiation protection requirements for the nuclear activities carried out on the site. ∙ The installations and activities relating to national defence, for which Defence Nuclear Safety Authority (ASND) is responsible for regulating the radiation protection aspects. ∙ The installations licensed under the legal system governing Basic Nuclear Installations (BNIs). ASN regulates the radio­ active sources and electrical devices emitting ionising radia­ tion 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. ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 245 08 – SOURCES OF IONISING RADIATION AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL, VETERINARY AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS 08 GRAPH 4 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 5,000 Number of veterinary authorisations Number of veterinary notifications 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016