ASN is renewing its Advisory Committees for nuclear safety: call for candidate applications

Published on 21/06/2022 at 14:22

Information notice

In order to prepare its resolutions which have the most significant nuclear safety and radiation protection implications, ASN requests opinions and recommendations from the Advisory Committees of experts (GPE) that report to it. There are currently six GPE covering nuclear safety and one covering radiation protection (GPRP).

ASN is renewing the six GPE covering nuclear safety this year:

  • waste (GPD),
  • decommissioning (GPDEM),
  • nuclear pressure equipment (GPESPN),
  • nuclear reactors (GPR),
  • transports (GPT),
  • laboratories and plants (GPU).

Duties of the Advisory Committees of Experts

These GPE are consulted by ASN so that they can shed light on technical subjects with the most significant implications and potential consequences, generally drawing on an expert assessment from IRSN, Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), ASN’s technical support organization, or from ASN’s technical departments. The GPE assimilate the data made available to them before issuing an informed and independent opinion. Their opinions are published on www.asn.fr.

The GPE provide ASN with an expert opinion developed from collective discussions between experts and the perspective necessary for decision-making. They act as guarantors of nuclear safety and radiation protection doctrine and contribute to its development. They can also be involved in regulatory changes.

Functioning of the Advisory Committees of Experts

The functioning of the GPE is described in the internal rules of procedure of both ASN and the GPE.

Each GPE meets several times a year to prepare the opinions transmitted to ASN. The GPE can also meet to hold information sessions and may be required to take part in field visits.

GPE members are appointed for their competence, whether cross-disciplinary in nuclear safety and radiation protection fields, concerning certain types of facilities or activities, or specialized in a particular technical field.

They come from civil society, industry, technical support organisations, university research laboratories, foreign safety regulators, etc., and they are appointed individually. They do not represent the structure from which they come. In this respect, the GPE are not pluralistic groups.

GPE members are appointed for 4 years by decision of ASN Director General. They carry out their activities on a voluntary basis and their duties can be terminated at their own request or if so decided by ASN, with full reasons being given.

The member selection and appointment process adopted by ASN aims to ensure not only the complementarity of their fields of expertise, but also their independence and the transparency of their decision-making process.

Procedure for candidate applications

The GPE must be duly constituted before 31 December 2022.

The application is also open for French speaking foreign experts.

The documents making up the candidate application file are available below:

  • application form,
  • table of skills,
  • specimen CV,
  • declaration of interests.

Once completed, these documents shall be sent to asn.candidaturesGPE@asn.fr no later than 31 august 2022.

All useful information may be obtained from the GPE secretary’s office at asn.candidaturesGPE@asn.fr

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To find out more:

The Advisory Committees

When preparing its decisions, the ASN asks for opinions and recommendations from Advisory Committees (GPE). Until 2009, it also relied on the Standing Nuclear Section of the French Central Committee for Pressure Vessels (CCAP). Seven Advisory Committees (GPE) have been created and report to the ASN Director-General.

Date of last update : 21/06/2022