Radioprotection - Collogues, volume 37, CI (2002) Cl-211 Consultation and consensus on dose assessment during nuclear discharge authorisations: A UK example K.J. Mondón, I. Fairlie 1 , L.J. Frewer 2 and C.B. Walters Food Standards Aqency, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH, U.K. ^ 115 Riversdaie Road, London N5 2SU, U.K. 2 Diet, Health and Consumer Science Division, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, U.K. Abstract . In October 2000, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) held a consultative exercise on the methods used to assess the potential consequences of proposed discharges from major nuclear plant in the UK. This paper explains why and how this meeting was held, and discusses the effectiveness of this type of consultation for technical debates. 1. BACKGROUND The Food Standards Agency's (FSA) views must be sought during the process of granting authorisations to operators of UK nuclear sites, to discharge radioactivity to the environment [1]. The FSA's primary role is to ensure the safety of the foodchain, and it has to identify the critical group which is potentially most exposed to radioactive discharges, so to judge the acceptability of exposures via food. This means that the FSA has to assess radiation doses from both food and non-food pathways. Other organisations are also involved in similar work. The Environment Agencies, who are responsible for issuing the authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, have recently commenced their own dose assessments [2]. Operators of nuclear plant are obliged to undertake their own risk assessment of the discharges they are proposing to make, see for example reference [3]. The UK's advisory body on radiation protection, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), is also involved in dose assessments, both in terms of method development, and as a contractor to government agencies and operators [see, for example, reference 4]. FSA's methods (and previously those of MAFF 1 ) have been regarded by operators of nuclear plant, regulators and NRPB as too cautious, see for example, reference [5]. Consequently, FSA decided to hold a Consultative Exercise on Dose Assessments (CEDA) [6,7], which took place in October 2000. 2. EXPECTATIONS The principal aim of CEDA was that it would provide an opportunity for the FSA to explain the detail and rationale of its methods to all stakeholders. It would also allow other dose assessors to comment publicly on FSA methods, and to explain their own methods. Importantly, it would provide the opportunity for all parties to debate individual points raised in presentations. It was also hoped that CEDA would achieve consensus on some issues, provide an impetus for agreed changes to be implemented, and fuel ideas for further debate, where there were unresolved issues. 1 Prior to April 2000, responsibility for food safety in the UK lay with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, MAFF.