Press release archive 2019

Press release Kozloduy, Bulgaria 18.11.2019 (PDF)

Press release
With regard to the articles published in the press concerning the closure of the radiotherapy department of the Timisoara Municipal Emergency Hospital, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control makes the following clarifications:
Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom, transposed by the Norms on basic radiological safety requirements published in the Official Gazette of Romania no. 517, Part I, of 25 June 2018, as well as the Norms on the medical physics expert, published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 906/2006, require medical facilities carrying out medical radiotherapy practices to contract the services of a medical physics expert.
The main duties of the medical physics expert are: to draw up the treatment plan for patients who have been prescribed radiotherapy treatment and to make sure, by applying the quality control procedures, that the linear accelerator and the simulator operate under conditions that are safe for the patient.
At the same time, according to the Radiological safety norm for the practice of radiotherapy, published in the Official Gazette of Romania no. 532/2014, the management of the medical facility in which the radiotherapy practice is carried out must implement a radiological safety policy whose objectives must be to ensure medical treatment, to safeguard the patient's state of health and to ensure patient safety.
In the case of the Timisoara Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital, the main deficiencies found both following the evaluation of the technical documentation submitted for authorization and following the inspection carried out by the CNCAN inspector on 2.07.2019 were:
- the lack of a medical physics expert in radiotherapy. The expert for whom the medical facility submitted appointment decision no. 70/06.08.2019 was nominated only for the authorization process at CNCAN, without also having the other responsibilities imposed by the legislation mentioned above, in particular those relating to the implementation of the quality control programme and the drawing up of treatment plans for patients.
- the deterioration of one of the shields protecting against ionizing radiation at the radiotherapy simulator.
In view of the non-conformities found in the process of evaluating the technical documentation and the fact that, by letter no. E-3114 of 6.08.2019, the hospital demonstrated that it had complied only partially with the provisions of the inspection report drawn up by the CNCAN inspector following the inspection of 2.07.2009, CNCAN rejected the application for the authorization of the use of the medical linear accelerator and of the radiotherapy simulator by letter no. 2467/03.09.2019.
Between 03.09.2019 and 19.09.2019, no application from the hospital for the re-authorization of the linear accelerator and the simulator was registered at the CNCAN registry.
CNCAN Press Office
20 September 2019
Press release
On 16-20 September 2019, the 63rd regular session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is taking place in Vienna. The President of CNCAN is part of Romania's official delegation, together with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the Ministry of Health (MS), the Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency (ANDR), the Technologies for Nuclear Energy State Owned Company (RATEN) and the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA).
Press release
On 27 August 2019, the Director-General of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), Mr William D. Magwood IV, visited the CNCAN headquarters. The NEA is an intergovernmental agency operating within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with the aim of assisting its member countries in maintaining and developing the scientific, technological and legal bases required for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Press release
From 26 to 30 August this year, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN), in partnership with the United States Department of Energy – National Nuclear Security Administration, is organizing at the JW Marriott hotel in Bucharest the pilot course entitled “Methodology for securing the transport of nuclear materials”.
Press release
With regard to the article published in the press under the title ”The radioactive cloud from north-western Russia will sweep across the entire territory of Romania tomorrow”, disseminated in the online media by Evenimentul Regional al Moldovei, CNCAN categorically denies this false information spread in the public domain.
CNCAN also points out that the map referred to in the article, namely the ”map of the dynamics and distribution of the level of radioactivity on our continent”, can be found at the following link https://remap.jrc.ec.europa.eu/GammaDoseRates.aspx, the EURDEP platform, and represents the data provided by the national monitoring networks of the European states, in which Romania also takes part. The National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPM) reports the data resulting from the environmental radioactivity monitoring carried out at national level to the European platform EURDEP. Throughout this period, no changes in environmental radioactivity have been recorded on the EURDEP platform.
Further to the joint IGSU-CNCAN-ANPM press release of 18 August 2019, CNCAN states that from 8 August 2019 until the time this press release was issued, the radiation level on the territory of Romania has been within the limits of the natural environmental background radioactivity and no recommendations or warnings/protective measures for the population are required.
At the same time, CNCAN states that no international organization with responsibilities in the field has issued any information concerning a change in the radiation level above the natural background, and accordingly no possible radiological risks to the population have been identified.
CNCAN Press Office
19 August 2019
Joint press release ANPM, CNCAN, IGSU
With regard to the information that has appeared in the public domain concerning the possible presence of a radioactive cloud over Romania, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN) and the National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPM) bring to the attention of the public the fact that there are no data confirming or indicating the existence of radiological risk factors for the population on the territory of Romania or for the environment that would require response measures to be taken.
The National Environmental Protection Agency continuously monitors environmental radioactivity on the territory of Romania through the National Environmental Radioactivity Surveillance Network (RNSRM).
In this regard, ANPM, together with CNCAN, informs the public that the measurements carried out on the territory of Romania from 8 August to date indicate that, at present, there is no change in the natural background in Romania in terms of environmental radioactivity.
We also point out that no changes in the level of environmental radioactivity have been reported at international level either. CNCAN remains in permanent contact with the Incident and Emergency Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and with the states with which Romania has concluded bilateral treaties under the International Convention on early notification in the event of radiological emergencies and nuclear accidents. IGSU, as the declared contact point at European Union level, is in permanent contact with our partners at European level.
ANPM reports the data resulting from the environmental radioactivity monitoring carried out at national level to the European platform EURDEP.
At the time this press release was issued, the radiation level measured by ANPM through the RNSRM is within the limits of natural environmental radioactivity.
CNCAN and ANPM, together with IGSU, state that there is no radiological hazard to the population or to the environment.

CNCAN Press Office
18 August 2019
Press release
Environmental radioactivity is continuously monitored on the territory of Romania through the National Environmental Radioactivity Surveillance Network (RNSRM), and the monitoring results are analysed by CNCAN specialists.
In this regard, CNCAN informs the public that the measurements carried out on the territory of Romania from 8 August to date indicate that, at present, there is no change in environmental radioactivity in Romania. “I can confirm that throughout this period in which we have carried out this monitoring across the entire territory of Romania, the radioactivity of the aerosol samples, against a warning limit of 50 becquerels/cubic metre (the unit of measurement for radioactivity) and an alarm limit of 200 becquerels/cubic metre, has not exceeded 5 becquerels/cubic metre, with Constanţa having, for example, 2 becquerels/cubic metre, and Bucharest 4.5 becquerels/cubic metre. The lowest values are at Arad, Baia Mare, Miercurea Ciuc, Sfântu Gheorghe, Piatra Neamţ and Babele, that is, across the entire territory of Romania. CNCAN carries out comparative analyses every 24 hours in order to track any kind of variation in radioactivity in aerosols, in fixed deposition and in water, as well as in gamma radiation.
We will remain on alert until all the information gathered, both at European level from our partners, the regulators in the neighbouring countries, and from the analyses we carry out, confirms that there is no change in environmental radioactivity at European level or in any country neighbouring Romania”, said Mr Rodin Traicu, President of the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control.
At the time this press release was issued, the radiation level measured by the RNSRM is within the limits of natural environmental radioactivity.
CNCAN states that there is no hazard to the population or to the environment.
CNCAN Press Office
14 August 2019
CNCAN has learned with deep sadness of the passing of Prof. Dr. Ioan Stefanescu, former Director General of the National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies Ramnicu Valcea – (ICSI).
 Mr Stefanescu was a specialist of great merit, involved in the development of cryogenic systems and installations and of isotope analysis methods and techniques, carrying out research and technological design activities in the field of hydrogen isotope separation and heavy water production installations.
 Mr Stefanescu was a member of numerous national and international scientific associations and of professional societies.
 In his capacity as director of ICSI, Mr Stefanescu made an outstanding contribution to research and development in the nuclear field, and his qualities as a teacher led to the training of entire generations of specialists who will continue his work.
 We hereby express our regret for the loss suffered by the entire scientific community and convey our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and collaborators.
May he rest in peace!
Press release
On 13.06.2019, CNCAN organized in Bucharest the opening conference of the project "Enhancing Nuclear Safety and Security in Romania – Improving Disaster Resilience and Preparedness for Response to Nuclear and Radiological Events", financed through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
Press release 
Press release 14.03.2019 (pdf)
Press release 13.03.2019 (pdf)
Press release 13.02.2019 (pdf)
Press release 08.02.2019 (pdf)
Press release 14.02.2019 (pdf)
 
International Symposium on Natural Radiation Sources – Challenges, Approaches and Opportunities, 21-24 May 2019.
On 9-11 April 2019, the Workshop on civil liability for nuclear damage for European states took place in Bucharest, an event organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hosted by the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN).
The event was attended by approximately 80 people: representatives of the IAEA Member States benefiting from the technical assistance programme, representatives of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy, and of the IAEA, members of the International Expert Group on Nuclear Liability (INLEX) and members of nuclear insurance companies. The main purpose of the workshop was to disseminate and present the principles governing the regime of civil liability for nuclear damage and the connection between the main provisions of the conventions in this field.
The opening session was also attended by the representative of the Government of Romania, who, in the address delivered on this occasion, emphasized the involvement of the national institutions in implementing the main provisions of the civil liability regime. The support given to the nuclear regulatory authority in the process of establishing the regime of civil liability for nuclear damage and, consequently, of ensuring a high level of nuclear and radiological safety, whose sole purpose is to protect the population and the environment, was reiterated.
One of the objectives of the workshop was to provide information on the international civil liability regime, in particular on the instruments adopted under the auspices of the IAEA, including the Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.
Through the presentations delivered on this occasion, the lecturers sought to offer their own views on the specific elements of liability in the nuclear field and to contribute to the universalization of the legal framework in force both among states with nuclear programmes and among those developing such programmes. The presentations were followed by discussions and case studies, during which the participants received specialized legal opinions from the IAEA and INLEX representatives regarding both the application of the principles governing the civil liability regime and the establishment of national reference frameworks, while also receiving advice on how better to manage the difficulties encountered in implementing the international legal provisions.