These regulatory frameworks consist of relevant legislation, regulations and guidance and a robust leadership and management programme for safety. It is essential to ensure that an operational and effectively independent regulatory body is established and maintained for the regulatory control of nuclear installations. This body needs sufficient resources and suitably qualified and competent staff that are enabled to fulfil their regulatory responsibilities and functions.
The IAEA’s Safety Standards and the Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors lay out the international requirements and recommendations for enhancing existing or developing regulatory systems for the control of nuclear installations throughout their lifetime until they are released from regulatory control, and any subsequent period of institutional control. The Convention on Nuclear Safety also provides to its contracting parties a set of obligations, including those relative to their legislative and regulatory framework and regulatory bodies.