HERCA Board Meeting in the HAEA

Herca Board Meeting

Heads Of The European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) held its 29th Board Meeting on 19-20 May 2022 in the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority partly with personal participation and partly online.

HERCA is a voluntary association of the Radiation Safety Authorities in Europe where they work together in order to identify common significant radiation protection issues and propose harmonization and/or practical solutions towards a common approach for these issues, whenever possible. (These authorities exercise regulatory control on e.g. x-ray machines in hospitals).

It has a significant role in supporting and facilitating the work of authorities as a platform for exchanging experiences, and promotes their work through its activities, periodic and permanent working groups, thus contributing the development of safety culture and the quality of patient care. HERCA currently operates through 6 working groups: medical, industrial, veterinary, educational, natural sources and emergency preparedness.

Ms. Eszter Rétfalvi, the Supervisory Director of the HAEA, and Mr. Géza Sáfrány, Head of the Radiobiology and Radiohygiene Department of National Public Health Centre presented the radiation protection tasks of the hungarian authorities. Over the two days, board members accepted the reports presented by HERCA working groups, summarizing their work and achievements since the previous meeting.

The most important topic was ‘HERCA-Working Group Emergency Preparedness and Response (WGE) Task Force – Ukraine support’ set up by the WGE in March 2022 in connection with the Russo-Ukrainian war.

With 8 countries participating and the European Commission (EC) observing, the Task Force takes into account the fact that a nuclear power plant (NPP) accident in Ukraine could lead to potential direct effects on the surrounding countries, and considering the HERCA-WENRA Approach (HWA), it is sensible to try and prepare a coherent and coordinated response within HERCA member states.

Mr. Michael Hübel from the European Commission, Ms. Jasminka Joksic from IAEA made a presentation during the two days.

The next Board meeting will take place in 2022 autumn in Greece.