Radiation Protection Today - Winter 2022 Issue 4 | Page 34

Latest from Legs and Regs

Retained EU Law ( Revocation and Reform ) Bill . The UK Government has set out plans to consider much of the retained EU law that was created at the end of the transition period . The timetable for this is 31st December 2023 . The retained law to be considered includes many safety and environmental laws relevant to radiation protection interests . The Bill will also include a sunset date by which all remaining retained EU Law will either be repealed or assimilated into UK domestic law .
A substantial amount of RP-related legislation is potentially in scope of ' sunsetting ' if not positively ' assimilated ' including the following :
• Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 ( IRR17 )
• Parts of Environmental Permitting
Regulations 2016 ( EPR16 ), including Schedule 23 on Radioactive Substances Regulation ( RSR )
• Radiation ( Emergency Preparedness and Public Information ) Regulations 2019 ( REPPIR19 )
• The Ionising Radiation ( Basic Safety Standards ) ( Miscellaneous Provisions ) Regulations 2018
Responsible government departments will review each statute and consider whether they should be retained – a mammoth task given the many statutes covered . An extension to the December 2023 timeframe is possible but would need to be justified . Scan the QR for further details . SRP has sent a response to the House of Commons Scrutiny Unit which can be found on the SRP website .
Legislation Quick Guide – REPPIR 2019
The Radiation ( Emergency Preparedness and Public Information ) Regs 2019
Background REPPIR implements in Great Britain the articles on emergency preparedness and response in the Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive .
What is the aim of this legislation ? REPPIR19 is concerned with preparedness for radiation emergencies and establishes a framework of preparedness measures to ensure that arrangements are in place to respond effectively to that emergency , both on the site of the emergency situation and off-site where members of the public might be affected . The Regulations ensure that the public is provided with information , both before and during an emergency , so that they are prepared in advance in the unlikely event of a radiation emergency occurring .
How is it regulated ? ONR regulates REPPIR for Licensed or Authorised nuclear sites . For all others , HSE is the regulator .
Who needs to comply with these regs ? REPPIR places legal duties on :
• operators of premises where work with ionising radiation is carried out , and the quantity of radioactive substances on the premises exceeds specified thresholds e . g . licensed nuclear sites , hospitals , universities , ports , airports , factories
• all local authorities , not just those who have REPPIR operators within their boundaries
• the employers of people who intervene in a radiation emergency , such as the emergency services , as well as any organisation or persons that have a specified role in an emergency plan
Where can I find more information ? REPPIR 2019 is available by scanning the QR . An accompanying Approved Code of Practice ( with update ) has been published at www . onr . org . uk / reppir-2019- update . htm Also see www . hse . gov . uk / radiation / ionising / reppir
34 Radiation Protection Today www . srp-rpt . uk