Protection and Control of Nuclear Materials

In the second half of the XX ^{n the 21st century, France voluntarily embarked on a major nuclear program at} . Today, this program, both civil and military, covers the entire nuclear fuel cycle, a major share of the country's electricity production, and numerous test and research facilities. What all these facilities and activities have in common is the use of fissile or fertile materials. The risks associated with these activities are taken into account not only as part of the French government's responsibility to its citizens, but also to the international community.

By definition, facilities and activities associated with nuclear energy involve the use of varying quantities of radioactive products. These products can expose workers, members of the public and the environment to ionizing radiation and its effects.

The protection of workers, the general public and the environment from radioactive products is primarily based on safety and radiation protection measures. These measures are designed to prevent events of internal origin, which may result from human error or equipment failure, or of external origin at the facility, and to limit the consequences of events which may occur despite the preventive measures adopted. These preventive and consequence-limiting measures are supplemented by security measures designed to prevent terrorist or malicious acts and, if necessary, reduce their consequences. The implementation of all security measures is based on a sharing of responsibilities between public authorities and nuclear operators.

Terrorism is now a major concern for the international community. The control of nuclear and radiological safety in the face of terrorist or malicious risks, and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, are major issues for society. The evolution of the international threat, the multiplication of international instruments designed to protect against the aforementioned risks, and the 2011 overhaul of French nuclear security regulations make this a sensitive, evolving and unavoidable issue. In this context, it is essential to note that nuclear security concerns are closely linked to those of nuclear safety, since the risks to members of the public and the environment are of the same nature, whether the event that triggers a release of radioactivity is of natural origin, a material failure or a malicious act.