ADVISORY MISSION FOR RADIATION SAFETY (AMRAS)
An effective national regulatory infrastructure is key to radiation safety, and if established in accordance with IAEA safety standards and guides, will reduce the likelihood of accidents and mitigate their consequences should they occur while also facilitating protection of workers, patients, the public and the environment. In due course, countries having effective national regulatory infrastructures for radiation safety make a significant contribution to safety internationally.
IAEA Advisory Missions provide States with advice and support to establish and/or strengthen national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety whilst recognizing the ultimate responsibility of the State in these areas. Each Advisory Mission is specific to the receiving State and is structured to accomplish this aim through assessment of the current status of the national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety with respect to IAEA safety standards and guidance.
An Advisory Mission is designed to respond to the specific needs and interests of a requesting State and to support the establishment and continuous improvement of its national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety. The learning, advice and information that are provided during an Advisory Mission make a significant contribution to the continuous development of the national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety.. The Advisory Mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on helping the State to get a better understanding of and to improve its compliance with the IAEA safety standards applicable to the scope of the mission.
The objectives of an advisory mission are:
- To evaluate the current status of the national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety with regard to IAEA Safety Standards and other relevant IAEA publications, in particular, in particular GSR Part 1 (Rev.1) and GSR Part 3 (the new BSS), in addition to the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.
- To provide advice with regard to any identified needs for improvement.
- To prepare a report that includes findings, conclusions, recommendations and an action plan for strengthening the national regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety in line with IAEA Safety Standards and guidance. The action plan describes the activities considered fundamental for strengthening regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety in the country.
Advisory missions are initiated with a formal request from a Member State. Typically three to five experts (one to IAEA staff members and two to three extenrnal experts) comprise the mission team, and its duration usually is three to five days.
