Types of Regulatory Documents
Regulatory documents support the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
regulatory framework. By expanding on expectations set out in general terms in
the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) and associated regulations,
regulatory documents provide one of the core management tools upon which the
CNSC relies to fulfill its legislated obligations.
The regulatory documents most commonly published by the CNSC are regulatory
policies, regulatory standards, and regulatory guides. At the highest level,
regulatory policies provide the direction for regulatory standards and guides,
which serve as the policy “instruments.” A fourth type of regulatory document,
the regulatory notice, is issued when warranted. Because the information in a
regulatory notice must be conveyed with relative urgency, the development
process is faster than that applied to the other documents.
Regulatory Policy (P): The regulatory policy describes the philosophy,
principles or fundamental factors on which the regulatory activities associated
with a particular topic or area of concern are based. It describes why a
regulatory activity is warranted, and therefore promotes consistency in the
interpretation of regulatory requirements.
Regulatory Standard (S): The regulatory standard clarifies CNSC
expectations of what the licensee should do, and becomes a legal requirement
when it is referenced in a licence or other legally enforceable instrument. The
regulatory standard provides detailed explanation of the outcomes the CNSC
expects the licensee to achieve
Regulatory Guide (G): The regulatory guide informs licensees about how
they can meet CNSC expectations and requirements. It provides licensees with a
recommended approach for meeting particular aspects of the requirements and
expectations associated with their respective licensed activities.
Regulatory Notice (N): The regulatory notice notifies licensees and
other stakeholders about significant matters that warrant timely action.
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