ASN Report 2020

This anticipation approach, conducted jointly with the stakeholders (including the French Society for nuclear medicine) and the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety led, in 2020, to the nationwide distribution of and access to this class of drugs, while guaranteeing good conditions of radiation protection for the patients, the professionals concerned and the environment (management of contaminated effluents). From post-accident preparedness to the development of a precautionary culture In a letter dated 18 June 2020, the Prime Minister tasked ASN with continuing to lead the work of the Steering Committee for the post-accident phase of a nuclear accident (Codirpa) for a period of 5 years. After focusing primarily on the consequences of an accident affecting a nuclear power plant, Codirpa will thus deal with the cases of accidents leading to radioactive releases in the marine environment, as well as accidents that could lead to releases of alpha emitting radionuclides, which require appropriate management. Having learned the lessons from emergency situations, Codirpa will also expand its actions to contribute to the development of a radiation protection culture. This culture requires greater involvement of regional players and the population living near the nuclear facilities in the preparation of the response plans and the exercises and in crisis management. ASN considers that the lessons learned from the health crisis and the work of the Codirpa, with the support of local partners, will be key factors in achieving progress in a precautionary culture. International relations maintained in appropriate formats In 2020, ASN maintained its international cooperation activities in various appropriate formats. After the cancellation, or the postponement sine die of all the major international events in the spring of 2020, exchanges were set up in virtual formats, notably to share the lessons learned f rom health crisis management. In certain exceptional cases, these postponements meant that it was impossible to fully meet certain obligations. This was the case of the peer review, scheduled by the Convention on Nuclear Safety and carried out under the aegis of IAEA. Although the current situation is a major obstacle to exchanges, in particular the informal exchanges which represent a significant part of international cooperation, contacts are nonetheless being maintained thanks to the pre- existing dynamics and ASN’s involvement in the virtual events being organised. • ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2020 7 EDITORIAL BY THE COMMISSION