Safeguards reporting requirements that derive from the Euratom Treaty are detailed in Commission Regulation (Euratom) 302/2005. The regulation sets out requirements for the provision of Basic Technical Characteristics (BTCs) and programmes of activities for installations subject to safeguards, and also for the nuclear material accountancy reports - Inventory Change Reports (ICRs), Material Balance Reports (MBRs), Physical Inventory Listings (PILs) and Advance Notifications of the import or export of material, which must be provided to the European Commission. Commission Regulation (Euratom) 302/2005 entered force in March 2005 and updates the previous regulation (No. 3227/76) on Euratom Treaty safeguards reporting requirements.
All reporting required by Commission Regulation (Euratom) 302/2005 should be transmitted to the European Commission (Directorate for Transport and Energy, TREN) via HSE(UKSO). Formal notification of safeguards inspections will similarly be provided via HSE(UKSO) and all inspection follow-up letters should also be copied to HSE(UKSO).
Typical Euratom safeguards inspection frequencies range from 3 weeks in every 4 at sites like Sellafield, to monthly inspections at enrichment plants, less frequent inspections at power stations and inspections only once every several years at SHNM. There is therefore considerable Euratom safeguards reporting and inspection activity in the UK. Approximately 160 UK facilities or installations are subject to Euratom safeguards and approximately 240 inspections were carried out in 2006.