ASN Report 2020

authorisations for access to sources were duly established in less than half the inspected sites. 3.3  Particle accelerators 3.3.1 The devices used A particle accelerator is defined as a device or installation in which electrically charged particles undergo acceleration, emitting ionising radiation at an energy level in excess of 1 megaelectronvolt (MeV). When they meet the characteristics specified in Article R. 593-3 of the Environment Code concerning the BNI nomenclature, these facilities are listed as BNIs. Some applications necessitate the use of beams of photons or electrons produced by particle accelerators. In France, slightly over one hundred particle accelerators, whether linear (linacs) or circular (synchrotrons) are operated in 64 licensed facilities (1) (excluding cyclotrons – see point 4.2 – and excluding BNIs), for highly diverse purposes such as: ∙ research, which sometimes requires the coupling of several machines (accelerator, implanter, etc.); ∙ radiography (fixed or mobile accelerator); ∙ radioscopy of lorries and containers during customs checks (fixed-site or mobile accelerators); ∙ modification of material properties; ∙ sterilisation; ∙ conservation of foodstuffs; ∙ others. 1. To which must be added 6 licenses to use an accelerator, either under worksite conditions, or for the shared use of a device whose possession is regulated by the other party’s license. In the field of research, two synchrotron radiation production facilities can be mentioned in France: the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, and the Soleil (Optimised Source of Intermediate-Energy Light of the Lure Laboratory) synchrotron in Gif-sur-Yvette. Particle accelerators have been used for several years now in France to fight fraud and large-scale international trafficking. This technology, which the operators consider effective, must however be used under certain specific conditions in order to comply with the radiation protection rules applicable to workers and the public, in particular: ∙ a ban on activation of construction products, consumer goods and foodstuffs as specified by Article R. 1333-2 of the Public Health Code, by ensuring that the maximum energy of the particles emitted by the accelerators used excludes any risk of activation of the materials being verified; ∙ a ban on the use of ionising radiation on the human body for purposes other than medical; ∙ the setting up of procedures to ensure that the checks conduc­ ted on the goods or transport vehicles do not lead to accidental exposure of workers or other individuals. The use of ionising technologies to seek out illegal immigrants in transport vehicles is prohibited in France. During customs inspections of trucks using tomographic techniques, for example, the drivers must be kept away from the vehicle and other checks must be performed prior to irradiation to detect the presence of any illegal immigrants, in order to avoid unjustified exposure of people during the inspection. Initiating trustworthiness checks The Public Health Code stipulates that the person responsible for the nuclear activities shall issue individual authorisations to the people who need access to the sources or to the information protecting them against malicious acts. To do this, the person may request the opinion of the Command Specialised in Nuclear Security (CoSSeN). This service, which has national competence, is part of the Ministry responsible for energy and the Ministry of the Interior; it is attached to the Director General of the National Gendarmerie. The CoSSeN’s opinion is based on an administrative review intended to check that the behaviour of the persons concerned is not, or has not become, incompatible with the functions or duties exercised. This trustworthiness check is based on the review of police databases and, if the persons are mentioned the said database, additional verifications. The persons concerned must be informed of this trustworthiness check. The conditions of investigation are governed by the Interior Security Code. This Code also provides the possibility of conducting such trustworthiness check on the person responsible for a nuclear activity, if the activity requires a licence. Performing such checks meets one of the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. ASN considers that is would be illogical for a person responsible for a nuclear activity to be able to request the CoSSeN to perform a trustworthiness check on a member of their staff or their subcontractors’ staff without themselves undergoing such a check insofar as they supervise the conditions of exercise of the nuclear activity. At the end of 2020, ASN initiated an experiment in this respect on licensees who are either suppliers of category A, B or C sealed radioactive sources or users of such sources in the Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes region. The preparation of this experiment included numerous interchanges with the CoSSeN. At the end of this experiment and once any necessary adjustments have been made, ASN plans having trustworthiness check conducted on the already licensed persons responsible for nuclear activities and when an initial licensing application is made or in the event of a change of the person responsible for the nuclear activity (or their representative in the case of a legal person). This trustworthiness check will be carried out at each licensing renewal application. 258 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 08 – SOURCES OF IONISING RADIATION AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL, VETERINARY AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS