Integrated Regulatory Review Service

Australia is a respected partner in the international cooperation on nuclear safety and security. It maintains this position by a number of means, including sharing its knowledge and learning from international best practice. An IRRS mission is a valuable regulatory benchmarking exercise involving peer review by overseas experts against IAEA Safety Standards.

2018 mission

The most recent IRRS mission to Australia took place during 4–16 November 2018. The IRRS reviewed Australia’s national, legal and governmental framework for nuclear and radiation safety against the IAEA’s Safety Standards. This mission reviewed all Australian States and Territories, as well as the Commonwealth. Under normal circumstances, Member States are expected to host a follow-up mission within four years of the original mission, to assess progress against the recommendations and suggestions. The intention is to request a follow-up mission as soon as practicable but given the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing of the follow-up mission is yet to be determined.

The report contains four notes of good practices, 23 recommendations, and 12 suggestions for improvement. These are addressed to the various Australian governments and regulatory bodies.

For more information, please see the following documents:

• Report of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Mission (Australia)
• Summary of the IRRS mission in the ARPANSA news item from 16 November 2018
• Integrated Regulatory Review Service - Action Plan (2020)
• Integrated Regulatory Review Service - Action Plan (2020)

2007 mission and 2011 follow-up

An IRRS team undertook a full scope mission in Australia in 2007. This IAEA effort was an in-depth review of ARPANSA’s Regulatory Services Branch. A follow-up mission was then conducted in 2011, when a module on medical exposure and patient protection was introduced.

As a result of these two missions, there were 16 recommendations and suggestions that were closed out in January 2015. For more information, please see the following documents:

• Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) to the Commonwealth Government of Australia - 25 June to 6 July 2007
• Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Follow-up Mission to the Commonwealth Government of Australia 7-15 Nov 2011
• Closure of recommendations and suggestions from 2011 IAEA Integrated Regulatory Service Review of ARPANSA
• Closure of recommendations and suggestions from 2011 IAEA Integrated Regulatory Service Review of ARPANSA