Commissioner Javier Dies attends the committee’s sessions in Vienna

The head of the CSN's Security Department also intervened in his capacity as chair of the IAEA's Nuclear Security Guidance Committee

The Commissioner of the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council, Javier Dies, took part in the 57th meeting of the Safety Standards Commission, organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from the 20th to the 23d of May. This meeting brought together high-level representatives from Member States, regulatory bodies, international organisations and specialised technical committees to discuss matters related to the IAEA’s nuclear safety and radiation protection standards.

The participants reviewed the current status of the IAEA safety standards and followed up on the actions agreed upon in previous meetings. Updates were presented by the five technical committees responsible for standards in the areas of nuclear safety, radiation protection, transport safety, radioactive waste safety, and emergency preparedness and response, as well as by the Nuclear Safety Guidance Committee (NSGC).

A key focus of the meeting was the development of a long-term plan for the review and advancement of the IAEA safety standards. As part of this, key aspects were approved regarding the structure and content of the safety standards, as well as the processes for their development and endorsement.

The discussions also addressed the integration of nuclear safety and security, cooperation with other international organisations, and the inclusion of emerging issues—such as artificial intelligence—that may impact current and future regulatory frameworks. A corresponding action plan to implement this strategy will be addressed in upcoming meetings.

Representatives from the committees reported on their recent activities and upcoming regulatory projects. During the session, three new safety guides were approved, focusing on key areas such as radiological surveillance of the public and the environment, the investigation and assessment of radiological risks in facilities, and geotechnical considerations in site evaluation and nuclear installation design. In addition, a new safety requirements document for the transport of radioactive material was endorsed.

The development terms for six forthcoming regulatory documents were also approved within the scope of the ongoing standardisation process.

The programme included thematic sessions on environmental radiation protection, with contributions from experts at international bodies such as the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), and the IAEA itself. The purpose of these sessions was to explore complementary approaches to integrating environmental protection within existing regulatory frameworks.

Delegates shared updates from its organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), as well as notable national regulatory developments. These included the establishment of the new French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR) and the regulatory framework of the United Arab Emirates.

Nuclear Security

Pedro Lardiez, Head of the Nuclear Security Department at the CSN and Chair of the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee (NSGC), presented the committee’s latest developments and initiatives. The Spanish delegation, through the CSN, contributed actively to the discussions and participated in the various specialised technical committees of the CSS, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to the continuous improvement of nuclear safety and radiation protection.

The CSN’s participation in this international forum is essential to ensure coherence between international standards and the national regulatory framework, while promoting a strong safety culture both in Spain and globally.

About the Commission on Safety Standards

Established in 1996, the CSS was created alongside four technical committees specialising in nuclear safety, radiation safety, transport safety, radioactive waste safety, nuclear security, and emergency preparedness and response. The Commission plays a key role in overseeing the IAEA’s safety standards and advising the Director General on all regulatory safety matters.

The standards endorsed by the CSS are used as reference frameworks by the majority of Member States when developing or revising their national regulations on nuclear and radiological safety.