Malta needs to develop a national policy and strategy for safety that takes into account risks associated with radiation facilities and activities, senior international nuclear safety and radiation protection experts said.

In a joint statement issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following the conclusion of a 10-day mission to review Malta’s regulatory framework for radiation safety, the experts also called on Malta to establish a dedicated nuclear and radiation safety law that ensured the protection of individuals, property and the environment.

The team also highlighted the need for an independent regulatory body with sufficient competence and resources.

Denis Flory, IAEA deputy director general, said Malta’s invitation to host the review demonstrated its dedication to improve radiation and nuclear safety, and to learn from international experience.

The eight-member review team said Malta was moving in the right direction to strengthen regulatory processes and improving the management of radiation safety and the government acknowledged that legislative and structural changes were needed.

The mission included site visits to observe inspections and interviews and discussions with staff from the government, other organisations and the regulatory body.

The mission provided recommendations and suggestions for improvement, including:

• The government should consider knowledge management measures together with the recruitment and professional development necessary for effective regulatory control of all facilities and activities;

• The regulatory body, working with its national counterparts, should consider regular reviews of its threat assessment and revise the national radiological emergency plan accordingly;

• The regulatory body should consider modifying its emergency classification system to be consistent with IAEA Safety Standards and revising the national radiation emergency preparedness and response plan to be consistent with national regulations and international standards; and

• The regulatory body should adopt a management system to improve aspects of its oversight of medical exposure and patient protection as well as occupational radiation protection and radiation safety in the industrial environment.

The final mission report will be provided to the government in about three months.