ONR recently signed a new information exchange arrangement with the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (JNRA), and renewed its existing arrangement with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC).
The arrangement was signed within bilateral engagements with Japan and the United States, as part of the International Atomic Energy Authroity’s (IAEA) 57th General Conference held in Vienna in September 2013. ONR’s Acting Chief Nuclear Inspector, Colin Patchett, led ONR's delegation to the conference, which is the highest policy making body of the IAEA, and meets annually to consider and approve its programme and budget.
The General Conference is a strategically important opportunity for ONR to undertake these bilateral engagements with counterpart international regulators and this year, ONR's delegation conducted several bilateral meetings with seven countries, including the United States and Japan.
Colin Patchett commented on the arrangements:
'The signing of a new bilateral arrangement with JNRA, and the renewal of our arrangement with the USNRC reflects the high esteem with which ONR considers bilateral cooperation on nuclear safety regulation. The US and Japan are key strategic partners for ONR in promoting the very highest standards of nuclear safety worldwide. Our new arrangement with Japan reaffirms ONR's commitment to support JNRA in its development as a new regulatory body and renewed arrangement with USNRC reflects the many similar challenges facing regulators as potential new technologies diversify in number.'