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Our legal framework and our relationship with Other Government Departments and Regulators

Statement of Ministerial accountability

International Conventions

Convention on Nuclear Safety

The objectives of this Convention are:

  1. to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety worldwide through the enhancement of national measures and international co-operation including, where appropriate, safety-related technical co-operation;
  2. to establish and maintain effective defences in nuclear installations against potential radiological hazards in order to protect individuals, society and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation from such installations;
  3. to prevent accidents with radiological consequences and to mitigate such consequences should they occur.

Text of the Convention on Nuclear Safety.

2002 Meeting

2005 Meeting

2008 Meeting

International Convention on nuclear safety

Text of the agreements of the International Convention on Nuclear Safety

Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

The objectives of the Joint Convention are:

  1. to achieve and maintain a high level of safety worldwide in spent fuel and radioactive waste management, through the enhancement of national measures and international co-operation, including where appropriate, safety-related technical co-operation;
  2. to ensure that during all stages of spent fuel and radioactive waste management there are effective defences against potential hazards so that individuals, society and the environment are protected from harmful effects of ionizing radiation, now and in the future, in such a way that the needs and aspirations of the present generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations;
  3. to prevent accidents with radiological consequences and to mitigate their consequences should they occur during any stage of spent fuel or radioactive waste management.

Text of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

2003 Meeting

2006 Meeting

Relationships with OGDs and Regulators

Environment Agency

The working relationship between HSE and EA

HSE and EA have recently produced a high-level Statement of Intent, signed by both the Director General, HSE and the Chief Executive, EA, on 8 August 2001. This provides an explanation of the HSE and EA responsibilities for nuclear safety and environmental regulation on and around nuclear licensed sites and the ways in which the two regulators carry out their regulatory activities. It also lists areas of joint regulatory interest and the ways in which HSE and EA interact on that work.

Subsequently HSE and EA have produced a joint report called "Working Together" on work they have done to follow up the statement of intent.

Memorandums of Understanding between HSE and EA/SEPA

Internal framework

Licence Conditions