Frequently Asked Questions

On this page:

• What are the Recommendations, Suggestions and Good Practices?
• How is the IRRS Team recruited?

What are the recommendations, suggestions and good practices?

Recommendations are proposed where key aspects relative to the IAEA Safety Requirements are missing, incomplete, or inadequately implemented. Recommendations should be specific, realistic and designed to result in tangible improvements to regulatory effectiveness. Recommendations shall be based on IAEA Safety Requirements, and the basis (relevant requirement) for the recommendation shall be clearly documented in the mission report. Recommendations may also reference a Code of Conduct if the host country requested that the Code of Conduct be used as part of the basis for the IRRS review. Recommendations should be formulated such that they are succinct and self-explanatory. They should clearly specify the responsible party and use a “should”- language (for example, “the regulatory body should do…”).

Reviewers may identify opportunities for improvement unrelated to a non-compliance with IAEA Safety Requirements that could be shared formally with the host country (e.g. a more efficient way of utilizing existing staff resources). Suggestions are a means of achieving this. Suggestions may indirectly contribute to improvements in national regulatory arrangements but are primarily intended to address regulatory technical and policy issues, to make the regulatory body’s performance more effective or efficient, to indicate useful expansions of existing programmes and to point out possibly superior alternatives to current work. In general, suggestions should stimulate the regulatory body’s management and staff to consider new or different approaches to regulatory technical and policy issues and enhance performance. A suggestion is either a proposal in conjunction with a recommendation or may stand on its own following a discussion of the associated background. Each suggestion shall have a basis either in IAEA Safety Requirements, Safety Guides or other relevant IAEA documents or regulatory body commitments (e.g., Codes of Conduct, Conventions, etc.). The basis for the Suggestion shall be clearly documented in the mission report. Suggestions should be formulated such that they are succinct and self-explanatory. They should clearly specify the responsible party and use a “should consider”- language (for example, “the regulatory body should consider doing…”).

A good practice is identified in recognition of an outstanding organization, arrangement, programme or performance superior to those generally observed elsewhere. A good practice is more than just the fulfilment of current requirements or expectations. It has to be worthy of the attention of other regulatory bodies as a model in the general drive for excellence. Good practices shall also reference a basis similar to Suggestions, and the basis shall be clearly documented in the mission report.

How is the IRRS Team recruited?

The IRRS is performed by an international team, recruited by the IAEA from a pool of experts in the Member States, with relevant experience. Team members are usually senior regulatory experts with broad knowledge of the regulation of nuclear and radiation safety and extensive related experience, often in specialized areas. In certain cases, members may be recruited from TSOs. Wherever possible the majority of the team should have previous IRRS mission experience.

Recruitment is performed by either inviting experts in person or requesting experts with specific expertise from Member States.