Raising awareness about protection and control of nuclear materials held by “small-scale holders”

Abstract

In France, the activities carried out by the “small-scaleholders” of nuclear materials are organized by a specific regulatorysystem which defines in a detailed way their obligations and themeans of control of the government. The first part of the articlepresents the legal framework relating to the use of nuclear materialsby small-scale holders in civilian fields. The importance of thedeclaration of the nuclear material inventory is clearly emphasizedand must be prepared and transmitted to the Institute for RadiologicalProtection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) every year. The second partdescribes how this declaration is used to provide basic informationfor the competent Ministry and the inspectors to check the correct applicationof the regulatory requirements relating to physical protection andto the control of nuclear materials. Finally, the last part presentsthe on-site inspections carried out by sworn and accredited inspectorsunder the authority of the competent Authority, which provide anoverall picture and allow an evaluation of the risks of theft, lossor diversion of these materials.