On 14 December 2016, the Governing Council adopted the draft proposal of a law relating to the sanitary protection against the dangers of radiation and the safety of nuclear installations.
The key objectives of the law include the improved sanitary protection of people against the dangers resulting from exposure to radiation, the strengthening of protection of patients subjected to medical exposure to X-rays and radiation, and the strengthened protection against nuclear risks potentially leading to a nuclear or radiological accident.
This reform both completes and integrates the main Grand Ducal legal provisions and regulations regarding protection against radiation in one single legislative text.
The transposition period for the 2013/59/EUROTOM directive, which fixes basic rules concerning protection against radiation, will end on 6 February 2018 and the transposition of the nuclear security directive will be 15 August 2017, at latest.
The main changes proposed by the law include modernising the national legislative framework for the control and surveillance of practices using sources of radiation, simplifying administrative processes regarding low risk equipment, defining the conditions for necessary continuous training regarding a practice, the consultation of experts, the individual protection of individuals and informing these individuals of the potential risks.
The law also involves closer collaboration between Member States and assuring that Luxembourg contributes to European reviews of nuclear power plants.
Currently, around 50 establishments are authorised to use and hold radioactive sources. These are found in the medical, industrial, research and teaching sectors. As for the transport of radioactive materials, around 30 transporters are allowed to carry out this out.
