The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) met with its four Standing Committees in Leesburg, Virginia, and Bethesda, Maryland, USA, last October. This was the last meeting for the 1997 – 2001 term.

The Commission approved two new ICRP reports for publication; one on Prevention of Accidents to Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy, and the other on Managing Patient Dose in Computed Tomography. It also reviewed 1) several reports for future approval, and 2) the continuing work of the four Committees.

The Commission discussed the reaction of the international radiation protection community to initial proposals concerning new ICRP recommendations. Based on this discussion, it launched a formal Task Group on New Recommendations to begin comprehensive work on these, taking account of the consultation results. Its recently launched Task Group on Protection of the Natural Environment also received some advice.

Finally, the five new members were elected to the Main Commission for its next, 2001 - 2005 term, and 20 new members were appointed to the four Committees for the next term. The new membership of the Commission and the four Committees is shown in the table. The next meeting of the Commission and its Committees will be at the beginning of September 2001 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Information: Jack Valentin, ICRP Scientific Secretary, SE-17116 Stockholm, Sweden; Fax +46 8 729 729 8, Email. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Radiation Safety Standards Committee (RASSC) held its 9th meeting in October to review the IAEA’s program of radiation protection guidance document development, with emphasis on the Safety Standards Series. The standing Committee provides advice to the IAEA Secretariat on the overall programme on regulatory aspects of radiation safety and has the primary role in the development and revision of the Agency's radiation safety standards. It is composed of senior regulatory officials from 19 IAEA Member States, and is currently Chaired by Dr. Ches Mason, Australia. In addition, several observers from other international organizations, including IRPA, attended the meeting.

Mr. Abel González, IAEA Division Director for Radiation and Waste Safety, began with a review of a number of issues related to radiation safety that were addressed during the IAEA General Conference in September. Then IAEA staff members introduced several issues related to standards development. These included a proposed outline for a new Common Safety Fundamentals which would become the top echelon document replacing existing Fundamentals in the areas of Safety of Nuclear Installations, Radioactive Waste Management, and Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources. Possible revision or amendment of the International Basic Safety Standards was also discussed, and referred back to the Secretariat for further consideration.

RASSC considered a number of more specific issues and documents such as a WHO document on Iodine Prophylaxis; the IAEA Model Project for Upgrading Radiation Protection Infrastructure; an Action Plan for the Safety of Radiation Sources and the Security of Radioactive Materials; the International Conference of National Regulatory Authorities with Competence in the Safety of Radiation Sources and the Security of Radioactive Materials; Radiological Criteria for the Acceptance of Commodities containing Long-Lived Radionuclides; Occupational Radiation Protection; Education and Training; Radiological Protection of Patients; Safety of the Transport of Radioactive Materials; and International Conventions. The next meeting of RASSC will be held in April.

Information: Alejandro Bilbao, Division of Radiation and Waste Safety, IAEA, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, AUSTRIA. Email. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The new IRPA Executive Council (E.C.) met in Paris in September for the first time since IRPA10 held in Hiroshima last May. The meeting was hosted by the Executive Officer, Jacques Lochard. From the outset, the tone of the meeting stressed the need for the E.C. to spearhead an IRPA program that is active throughout the four years leading up to IRPA11 in Madrid. This includes giving emphasis to support for the Associate Societies.

The  minutes (28.83 KB) of this meeting are available.

With his departure for the IRPA Executive Council, Rupprecht Maushart takes a great deal of “corporate memory”. He was one of those instrumental in organizing IRPA in 1965, and has been heavily involved ever since. On his return to Germany following IRPA10, Rupprecht was kind enough to provide three photos of the organizers, and it is a pleasure to share them.

IRPA Pro Tempore Executive Council, Paris, France, Dec. 2, 1964.
From Left: Maushart (Germany), Courvoisier (Switzerland), Duhamel (France), Jammet (France), Bonnet-Maury (France)

IRPA Pro Tempore Executive Council, Paris, France, Dec. 2, 1964.
From Left: Halter (Belgium), Marko (Canada), Maushart (Germany), Courvoisier (Switzerland), Duhamel (France)

IRPA Pro Tempore Executive Council, Paris, France, Dec. 2, 1964.
From Left: Hart (USA), Benco (Italy), Nishiwaki (Japan)

Information: Rupprecht Maushart, Pappelweg 38, D-75334 Straubenhardt, GERMANY. Fax: +49-(7082)-40206. Email: 100754, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it