An IRRS team inspects Thailand’s TRR-1/M1 reactor in Bangkok

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission to Thailand at the request of the Thai government. The mission was the first of its kind in Thailand and was hosted by the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP). The 12-day mission covered various aspects of nuclear and radiation safety, including the legal framework, regulatory processes, emergency preparedness and response, and interfaces with nuclear security.

The IRRS team, comprising 15 regulatory experts from 14 countries and three IAEA staff members, observed a strong commitment to nuclear and radiation safety in Thailand. The team identified areas of good performance, such as the robust foundation provided by the Nuclear Energy for Peace Commission, OAP's public and informational activities, its efforts to develop capacities for independent review and assessment of research reactor applications, and its efforts to establish an organizational safety culture.

However, the team also identified areas for further improvement, including the need for Thailand to adopt a national policy and strategy for nuclear and radiation safety, strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for the regulation of medical exposure, and review or establish additional regulations to fill existing gaps in the regulatory framework.

The OAP Deputy Secretary General expressed Thailand's commitment to carefully analyze the recommendations and suggestions made by the team and to do its best to implement them to improve the national regulatory framework, infrastructure, and activities for compliance with IAEA standards and requirements. The IAEA Director of the Division on Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety praised Thailand's proactive approach to enhancing its competence for safety and drew lessons from the experiences of experts from other countries through IAEA peer review and advisory services. The team's final report will be provided to the Thai government in about three months.