The NEA Expert Group on International Recommendations (EGIR), which was re-established by the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) in October 2021, met for its second meeting on 11 March 2022. The EGIR has been tasked with evaluating the review and revision of the System of Radiological Protection outlined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in the Publication 103, The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. These recommendations are a key tool in regulating and managing radiation exposures of the public, patients, workers and the environment in various circumstances. A strategic review of this kind takes place once every 15-20 years to ensure that the System of Radiological Protection stays fit for purpose.
The EGIR has focussed on identifying and prioritising the key issues in the System of Radiological Protection that should be addressed as part of the ICRP’s review. Grouped into themes, they were presented for discussion to the CRPPH during its 80th meeting on 29-31 March 2022. The themes include:
- The System of Radiological Protection – an overarching theme looking at historical and proposed changes to the system;
- Optimisation – focussed on the challenges associated with the practical application of optimisation;
- Environmental protection – focussed on ensuring that recent developments in environmental protection are reflected in the revised system;
- Radiological detriment – exploring the state of the art science associated with calculating radiological detriment, while considering the ethical and practical implications of applying the proposed changes;
- Exposure situations – theme to ensure that the situation-based approach that was introduced in the ICRP’s Publication 103 undergoes continuous improvement.
For each theme, the EGIR identified problems and challenges, as well as potential solutions to address the key issues. The EGIR will continue to develop recommendations based on the feedback provided by the CRPPH and will publish its first report later this year.
By engaging with NEA standing technical committees, international organisations and other stakeholders, the EGIR supports the ICRP gather the evidence required to substantiate and where necessary challenge proposed changes to the current system.
