As a follow-up to the 3rd Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety in April 2005, Canada announced its intention to host an International Regulatory Review Team (IRRT) peer review. The IRRT program, launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is intended to compare, where possible, the regulatory practices in a country with international standards and equivalent good practices elsewhere. The IRRT peer review is conducted by a team of international experts with direct experience in the areas being evaluated.

Peer reviews are neither an inspection nor an audit but rather an opportunity for both the national regulator and the IAEA to learn about different approaches to the organization and practices of a national nuclear regulatory body. Such a process contributes to ensuring strong nuclear safety. They allow international nuclear regulators exchange professional experiences, lessons learned and good practices.

The IRRT project is a corporate-wide initiative involving the review of the CNSC’s legislative framework, general regulatory requirements, and management systems, as well as regulatory activities for the power reactor service line, such as regulatory documents, licensing, review and assessment, and compliance. The project has already started at the CNSC with a self-assessment. The IRRT peer review is scheduled for the fall of 2007. A follow-up self-assessment and peer review will be conducted 18 to 24 months after the first peer review.

The IRRT project will be consistent with the CNSC’s vision of regulatory excellence.

For more information on the IRRT program, you can visit the IAEA website.