∙ contact them if clarification is required (this is frequently the case); ∙ inform them if action has been taken following their alert. In 2022, 46 reports were sent to ASN: three-quarters (34) via the whistle-blower portal, the others by alternative means of transmission, mainly (8 reports) by direct contact with the ASN division geographically competent or the technical department in charge of the subject. The reports received vary: ∙ in the field concerned: just under one third concern BNIs, about one quarter the medical field; ∙ in their content: they can report deterioration in the organisation of the entity which could affect radiation protection, poorly performed work, etc. Some reports are forwarded by ASN to other administrations when it is not competent to deal with them. All reports are examined and dealt with. This can lead to an inspection, a technical analysis, a request for information from a nuclear activity manager, etc. It could for example concern information regarding the security of a BNI, which must be addressed by the High Defence and Security Official at the Ministry for Energy. Thirteen reports were verified during the course of inspections. The follow-up to these inspections is dealt with in the same way as routine inspections. One of them for example led to discussions with the Public Prosecutor’s Office owing to the potential gravity of the allegations contained in the report. Few reports received in 2022 were anonymous (six), which make it easier to process them. Only one report could not be processed because its content was not detailed enough to allow this and its author could not be reached. Act 2022-401 of 21 March 2022 aiming to improve whistleblower protection, which modifies the system created by the “Sapin 2 Act” of 9 December 2016, entered into force on 1 September 2022. It is supplemented by Constitutional Act 2022‑400 of the same date, which aims to reinforce the role of the Defender of whistle-blower rights. These two Acts reinforce the whistle-blower protection system. They transpose Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of 23 October 2019 defining a common framework for this protection and take it even further. A broader definition of whistle-blower, simplification of the alert procedures, reinforcement of the whistle-blower protections, a new status for the entourage of the whistle-blower and an expansion of the roles of the Defender of Rights with regard to whistleblowing are the main contributions of these Acts. Furthermore, Decree 2022-1284 of 3 October 2022 relative to the procedures for collecting and processing alerts submitted by whistle-blowers and setting out the list of external authorities instituted by Act 2022-401 supplements these provisions by detailing the whistle-blowing report processing mechanisms. This Decree defined ASN as having competence to process whistleblower alerts regarding radiation protection and nuclear safety. The portal for submitting alerts to ASN and its internal procedures are being updated to take account of these changes. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Licensee Private Institutional University Association Total Foodstuffs Surrounding environment Gas/Air Aerosols/Filter Biological Soils Water GRAPH Breakdown of the number of approved laboratories for a given environmental matrix as at 1 January 2023 7 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2022 165 • 03 • Regulation of nuclear activities and exposure to ionising radiation 01 03 07 08 13 AP 04 10 06 12 14 09 05 11 02
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