The Regulatory Body shall structure its organization and manage its resources so as to discharge its responsibilities and perform its functions effectively; this shall be accomplished in a manner commensurate with the radiation risks associated with facilities and activities mandated to control (GSR Part 1, Req. 16). GSR Part 1, Req. 3 establishes that the government, through the legal system, shall establish and maintain a regulatory body, and shall confer on it the legal authority and provide it with the competence and the resources necessary to fulfil its statutory obligation for the regulatory control of facilities and activities.
Many different factors may influence the structure and size of the Regulatory Body, but the Regulatory Body’s reporting line in the governmental infrastructure shall ensure effective independence from organizations or bodies charged with the promotion of nuclear or radiation related technologies (SF-1, Principle 2).
The organizational structure may differ from State to State, depending on the national legal system and practices, but it is typically based on its regulatory functions [link to the function of RB page], which may include development of regulations and guides, authorization, review and assessment, inspection, enforcement and communication, etc. It is recognized, however, that alternative structures may also be effective in providing adequate safety oversight. The organization should be adaptable and flexible to act effectively and to address arising activities from the regulatory programs, such as changes of lifecycle stages of nuclear facilities.
In a large Regulatory Body organization, each of its functions may be assigned to a discrete organizational unit with its own specialists. However, it is often practical and efficient to group the specialists in a matrix such that each organizational unit that is assigned responsibility for a particular function can draw on the necessary specialist skills.
If the Regulatory Body lacks expertise in any technical or functional areas necessary to discharge its responsibilities or functions, it shall seek advice or assistance, as appropriate, from external expertise (such as a dedicated support organization (see below), universities or private consultants). The Regulatory Body must ensure that the external advisors are effectively independent from the operator to maintain the independence of the regulatory function (GSR Part 1, Req. 17). If this is not possible, then advice or assistance may be sought from other States or from international organizations whose expertise in the field concerned is well established and recognized.
