Nuclear safety reforms: International differences
Faced with the challenges of nuclear safety, countries are adopting a variety of structures, combining expertise and decision-making, with reforms in France, the United States, Japan and Belgium reflecting this diversity.
| Countries | Belgique, France, Japon |
|---|---|
| Companies | Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (ASN), Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) |
| Sector | Énergie Nucléaire, Fission |
| Theme | Régulation & Gouvernance, Politique publique |
In France, the reform aimed at merging the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) and the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN) is changing the nuclear safety structure in place since the 1990s. This initiative, now validated by the French National Assembly and designed to improve the effectiveness of nuclear surveillance, is being contested for its potential conflict between scientific assessment and political decision-making. Nuclear historian Michaël Mangeon stresses the importance of this separation for the confidence and legitimacy of nuclear risk management organizations. The French reform is inspired by the integrated American model, often cited for its unified structure under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
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