About
The Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety (IACRS) was established in 1990 to promote consistency of policies and co-ordination of activities in radiation protection and safety at the international level. The objective of the committee arises from the numerous functions it performs, including:
- applying radiation protection and safety principles and criteria for the development and implementation of safety standards, and translating them into regulatory terms, as well as in practical processes/procedures;
- coordinating research and development;
- advancing education and training;
- promoting widespread information exchange;
- facilitating the transfer of knowledge from the latest research and technology, as well as know-how;
- and, providing services in radiation protection and safety.
Composition
The IACRS is composed of representatives from intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned with radiation protection and safety matters.
Member organisations are ‘intergovernmental organisations', which includes specialised agencies and related organisations of the United Nations system, relevant programmes, offices or entities of the United Nations, and other relevant non-United Nations organisations.
Observer organisations are non-governmental international organisations.
Each member and observer organisation nominates a representative to the Committee.
At present, the member organisations are:
- European Commission (EC);
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO);
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);
- International Labour Organization (ILO);
- Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (NEA/OECD);
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO);
- United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR);
- World Health Organization (WHO).
At present, the observer organisations are:
- International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP);
- International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU);
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC);
- International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA);
- International Standards Organization (ISO).
Functions
The functions of the Committee are undertaken without prejudice to the roles and responsibilities to the member organizations. The IACRS activities do not affect the other arrangements defined in agreements between organizations, or their day-to-day implementation. The Committee may set up task groups to address specific issues.
The Committee has the following main functions:
- To provide a forum for the timely exchange of information between the organizations on their respective activities enabling as far as possible the harmonization of their respective plans and activities related to radiation safety, inter alia, in order to avoid inconsistency or unnecessary duplication of radiation safety standards and recommendations.
- Specifically, as and when appropriate, to consider proposals to the IAEA to initiate a process for the review and if appropriate revision of the Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards, and to assist in this process to the extent applicable.
Committee Chair and Secretariat
The Committee agrees which member organisation will chair the Committee until the next regular meeting. The chair, in principle, rotates among the member organizations.
The Committee has a standing secretariat (the secretariat) to provide continuity. Member organisations appoint the secretariat for a period of six years.
Meetings
The Committee holds regular meetings on a periodic basis, as deemed necessary but with an interval between regular meetings generally not exceeding 18 months.
The Committee also convenes extraordinary meetings either on their own initiative or at the request of a Committee member.
The Committee may invite other organizations as appropriate for specific topics.
The Committee seeks to agree on matters by consensus.
30th Anniversary Timeline
