At the request of the Slovenian Government authorities, an IAEA Team of nine experts visited the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (SNSA) to conduct an International Regulatory Review Team (IRRT) review. The purpose of the mission was to perform an objective and systematic review of the regulatory body of Slovenia and to exchange information and experience in the regulation of nuclear, radiation and radioactive waste safety. The Team carried out interviews with the SNSA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, Civil Protection and Technical Support Organizations (in the report these are termed Authorized Organizations).

The reviewers identified a number of good practices that have been recorded for the benefit of other nuclear regulatory bodies. They also made recommendations that indicate where improvements are necessary or desirable to further strengthen the regulatory body in Slovenia. The exchange of information between the experts and the counterparts has also lead to a number of suggestions related to good international practices exercised in other countries.

Since 1987, when the SNSA was established, substantial progress has been made in achieving the qualities required by a strong, independent and competent regulatory body consistent with international practices. The Team noted that the SNSA has a staff of motivated and dedicated persons with competence in their areas of responsibility. The SNSA has been assigned most of the roles and responsibilities normally allocated to a regulatory body.

The team believes that high priority should be given to the following recommendations:

• A new law on nuclear, radiation, radioactive waste and transport safety should be prepared and promulgated, defining clearly the roles and responsibilities of all governmental bodies involved in the regulatory process. In particular, the SNSA should be clearly assigned the authority and responsibilities it needs to act as a strong regulatory body in accordance with the best international practices. Further, adequate provisions should be established to give the SNSA the authority and resources to manage the independent safety assessment required in the licensing process.

• The SNSA and the Ministry of Health should co-operate in the development of new legislation in the area of radiation protection.

• The national response to nuclear and radiological emergencies should be improved by implementing well-co-ordinated and thorough national nuclear and radiological emergency plans. A comprehensive exercise should be completed within two years to confirm the co-ordination among all authorities involved in responding to nuclear emergencies.

• The SNSA should clearly define and communicate its policy, objectives and strategy related to the regulation of nuclear, radiation and radioactive waste safety.

• The SNSA inspection programme should be strengthened through the further development and implementation of a systematic planning process that is based on licensee performance and nuclear safety. Inspectors should be focused primarily on conducting inspection activities.

• The SNSA should further develop its technical capabilities in order to be able to make better independent decisions. A realignment of the role of the authorized organizations should be considered to support this goal.

• The SNSA should further strengthen its process for feedback of operational experience.

• The Government of Slovenia should ensure that a programme to determine typical patient doses from diagnostic radiological and nuclear medicine procedures is introduced in Slovenia.

The SNSA staff, as well as the staff of the relevant Ministries, expended considerable effort in preparation for the mission. During the review, the administrative support was excellent and the Team was extended full and open co-operation during technical discussions. The counterparts actively participated in this international exchange of information.