An 18-member team from the International Atomic Energy Agency carried out an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to evaluate the regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in Italy in late November of this year. Fourteen experts from Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Slovenia, Cuba, Luxembourg, Spain and Hungary, plus four International Atomic Energy Agency staff members, spent 12 days in Italy. The mission was hosted by the Italian government and the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research's (ISPRA's) nuclear, technological and industrial risk department.
The IRRS carries out these review missions in order to " strengthen the effectiveness of the national radiation safety regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each member state to ensure nuclear and radiation safety." The IRRS review compares the nuclear regulatory frameworks in a member country with IAEA standards and best practices in the international nuclear industry. The review results in a report that identifies good nuclear regulatory practices in the nation hosting the review and also points out area for improvement.
The review verified that Italy has a regulatory framework for nuclear safety. Italy has "state of the art" practices with respect to decommissioning nuclear reactors and handling nuclear waste. There is a comprehensive database and analytical software for evaluating nuclear transport issues. And, the IRRS review concluded that Italy has excellent training for radiation protection experts.
The IRRS review identified areas where Italy could improve its framework for regulating nuclear safety. Italy should continue working on national policies for safety, decommissioning and radioactive waste management. It also recommended that Italy complete work on legal frameworks for "the approval of technical services, the establishment of national databases related to safety and improvements in aspects of the authorization process."
The IRRS review suggested that an integrated management and communication system should be developed for the new NSRP regulatory board and said that Italy should improve the regulation of "review and assessment, authorization, inspection, emergency preparedness and response, and occupational and public exposure control."
The ISPRA Director said, "The effort made by ISPRA staff to conduct the self-assessment and to host the IRRS mission as well as the commendable work done by the IRRS team will provide very useful basis for further improving our national regulatory system for nuclear safety and radiation protection."
Italy has operated four nuclear power reactors in the past but decided to abandon the use of nuclear power following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. The last two power reactors were shut down in 1990. The Management Company for Nuclear Plants was created to oversee the decommissioning of the old nuclear power plants and to locate a site for the permanent disposal of nuclear waste. Italy still operates five research reactors and utilizes nuclear radiations sources for medical, industrial and research applications.
Legislation was passed in 2014 in Italy to create the Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (NSRP) which will take over the duties for nuclear regulation from ISPRA which has had that responsibility for many years.
