History

In 1955, by Decision of the Council of Ministers (HCM) 903/1955, the Committee for Nuclear Energy was established under the Council of Ministers of the Romanian People's Republic, an entity which “shall ensure the material basis for research in the field of nuclear physics and its application in the fields of science and technology”.

In 1961, the regime for working with nuclear radiation sources was regulated. By Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 741/1961, the State Committee for Nuclear Energy (CSEN) of the Council of Ministers was designated as the authorizing body.

The Commission for the Guidance and Control of Nuclear Units was established within the Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA) as the inspection body.

The State Inspectorate for the Control of Nuclear Activities and Nuclear Quality Assurance (ISCAN) was established within CSEN.

CNCAN was established on 8 January 1990, by Decree no. 29/1990, taking over the State Inspectorate for the Control of Nuclear Activities and Nuclear Quality Assurance (ISCAN).

In 1990, Decree no. 221/1990 regulated the functioning and responsibilities of the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control, as follows: “The National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control is a specialized central body of the state administration, which performs the function of national licensing and control body with regard to all activities for the introduction, development and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control licenses the siting, construction and operation of nuclear facilities and verifies that the radiation protection of personnel, the public and the environment is ensured”.

In 1996, Law no. 111/1996 on the safe deployment of nuclear activities was adopted, which establishes that “The national competent authority in the nuclear field, which exercises the regulatory, licensing and control powers provided for in this law, is the Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection, through the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control”, this being the first “nuclear law”.

In 1997, Government Decision no. 249/1997 approved the Regulation on the organization and functioning of the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control.

Over time, the regulatory acts governing the functioning, powers and responsibilities of CNCAN have been amended in order to respond to specific needs and/or to align with Community legislation. Consequently, CNCAN currently carries out its work on the basis of Law no. 111/1996 on the safe deployment, regulation, licensing and control of nuclear activities, republished, as subsequently amended and supplemented, and Government Decision no. 729/2018 on the organization and functioning of the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control.

v Presidents of CNCAN:

• Dr. Phys. Ștefan Alexandru OLARIU (1990- 1990) - the first President of CNCAN

• Dr. Eng. Petru POPA (1990-1993)

• Eng. Gheorghe Anton DRAGOMIRESCU (1993-1996)

• Dr. Phys. Dan CUTOIU (1997-2001)

• Dr. Eng. Lucian BIRO (2001-2005)

• Eng. Vilmos ZSOMBORI (2005-2008)

• Eng. Borbála VAJDA (2008-2012)

• Dr. Eng. Constantin POPESCU (2012-2015)

• Eng. Gabril PETRE (2015-2017)

• Dr. Eng. Rodin TRAICU (2017-2020)

• Dr. Eng. Gheorghe IONIȚĂ (2020 – 2021)

•           Eng. Cantemir CIUREA-ERCĂU (2021 – present)