Review and analysis of the transposition and implementation of the basic safety standards provisions on Radiation Protection Expert (RPE), Radiation Protection Officer (RPO), and Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in EU Member States: Final report

This study provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the legislative frameworks and practical implementation of the roles of experts defined in Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (the Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD)) in EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland. The focus is on radiation protection experts (RPEs), radiation protection officers (RPOs) and medical physics experts (MPEs). The study’s key objectives were to examine national legislation and regulatory frameworks and evaluate their practical implementation, and to assess arrangements for the education, training, retraining and recognition of RPEs, RPOs (where appropriate) and MPEs, and the evaluation of the practical implementation of these frameworks. The study identified and engaged with Competent Authorities responsible for these roles, analysed how the BSSD’s requirements have been transposed into national laws and investigated their effectiveness in addressing recognised challenges, such as mutual recognition and the mobility of professionals. Several countries expressed ambitions to further develop and strengthen their frameworks for RPEs despite full compliance with BSSD requirements. Respondents also emphasised the value of introducing the RPO role, which has refined radiation protection measures in workplaces and facilitated the establishment of dedicated training frameworks in some Member States. The study was informed by a complete survey and data from additional documentation and network of information. The survey’s open-ended format allowed respondents to provide detailed insights and resulted in variability in the depth and scope of responses.