Al-Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Centre, Iraq (Case Studies on Changes to Regulatory Approaches)

Full text: The Radiation Protection Centre (RPC) was established in 1971 as the sole regulatory body in Iraq for nuclear activities. In 2006, the RPC was designated as the national regulatory body with responsibility for all decommissioning activities in Iraq. Originally, the RPC functioned in accordance with laws passed during the 1970s and 1980s whereby all nuclear facilities at Al Tuwaitha were maintained and operated based on the standards of international suppliers. Later, these laws and standards were found to be inadequate for the new responsibilities of the RPC, and a new legal framework was developed in accordance with IAEA Safety Standards. Significant efforts have been directed at meeting the goals of the national regulatory requirements, efforts which included instituting numerous changes and modifications to the detailed articles of the law, as well as preparing new regulations to cover decommissioning and waste management activities. (author)