The 84th meeting of the NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) included topical sessions, discussed the 2027-2028 programme of work and marked a chair transition, with the appointment of Antony Bexon (United Kingdom) as the new Committee Chair, succeeding Thierry Schneider (France). It was held from 8 to 10 April 2026 at the NEA in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Organised in a hybrid format, the annual meeting brought together approximately 70 delegates from 19 NEA member countries, 9 international organisations, as well as invited experts. Invited delegates from Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine were also present.
Topical presentations provided reflections on long-term experiences from major nuclear accidents. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO) presented on health effects of the Chernobyl accident. Delegates from the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan addressed continuous improvements in radiation protection and emergency preparedness following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Delegates reviewing CRPPH-83 commitments, progress to date and ongoing activities
Ongoing work under the NEA Working Party on Nuclear Emergency Matters (WPNEM) was reviewed, including conclusions on the Sixth International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX-6) and initial reflections on the planning of INEX‑7. An update from the NEA Expert Group on Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors (EGEPSMR) highlighted the launch of a survey to determine whether the implementation of existing emergency preparedness and response requirements adequately cover small modular reactors (SMRs).
Updates were provided on the NEA Task Group on Radiological Protection during Armed Conflict (TGRPAC), with emphasis on developing guidance for relevant stakeholders. Participants shared that future work should focus on practical operational guidance based on lessons learnt from Ukraine and to address gaps in existing frameworks. In this context, a joint workshop between the NEA and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) with support from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is being planned. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine provided an update of the situation in-country.
The Committee received updates from the High-Level Group on Low-Dose Research (HLG-LDR), which reported on progress of co-ordination and communication of low‑dose research. Updates were also shared from the NEA Expert Group on Post-Accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF) as well as from the NEA Expert Group on Radiological Protection of the Environment (EGRPE).
Delegates engaging in group discussions during breakout sessions
A dedicated session focused on the ongoing revision of the system of radiological protection by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and its implications for national implementation. The NEA Expert Group on International Recommendations (EGIR) presented its work on developing a simple and structured regulatory impact assessment (RIA) framework to support CRPPH engagement during the ICRP revision process.
The group will hold its next annual meeting in April 2027 at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris, France.
