21 Jan (NucNet): France�s nuclear safety authority (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, ASN) says it is now better able to impose adequate sanctions on nuclear operators because of reforms that were carried out in 2006 by then-president Jacques Chirac.*

In a review of the first two years of ASN�s operation under revised legislation and the new so-called �TSN law�, which sets out regulations on nuclear transparency and safety, its chairman Andre-Claude Lacoste said ASN�s status with regard to nuclear safety and radiation protection had been �improved and clarified�.

ASN had increased its independence and its legitimacy and has enhanced powers enabling it to penalise violations and take all necessary urgent measures including suspension of activity.

At a media conference on 20 January 2008 reporters were also told that progress needs to be made in the medical sector regarding radioprotection culture and the reporting of incidents.

The conference, which was also attended by ASN commissioner Marc Sanson and ASN director-general Jean-Christophe Niel, heard that ASN�s new statutes had enabled it to perform with greater control and transparency.

In a statement published yesterday ASN said it had been able to develop an integrated system of control of the nuclear industry taking into account technical, organisational and human factors.

* The ASN was newly established in January 2007 by president Jacques Chirac. France already had a nuclear safety authority, but the one established by Mr Chirac to replace it was for the first time a fully independent authority. It is composed of a �college� of five members chosen for a six-year term. Three are chosen by the French president and one each by the presidents of the National Assembly and Senate.

Mr Chirac said in January 2006 that making ASN independent of ministers was a necessary �confidence building� measure relating to the control of nuclear safety, radioprotection and information.

Further details about ASN are available on the authority�s web site (http://www.asn.fr).

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Lacoste Named President Of Independent French Nuclear Safety Body (World Nuclear Review No. 51, 22 December 2006)

Draft French Decommissioning Policy Proposes �Immediate Dismantlement� (News in Brief No. 42, 8 April 2008)

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