[en] On October 20, 2001 the Main Commission of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) approved the formation of a new Task Group, reporting to Committee 4, to develop guidance on the principle and application of the optimization of radiological protection. As stated in the terms of reference, the objective of the Task Group was to review the principle of optimization and the requirements for its implementation in relation to the revised ICRP general recommendations. In this perspective, particular attention had to be given to the role of constraints, the distribution of individual exposures, stakeholder involvement and application in regulation and operation. (N.C.)