Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - France (Ratification: 1971)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. It also notes the comments by the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT), dated 9 December 1994, on the application of the Convention; it notes that the Government has provided no response to these comments.

1. Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. In its 1992 general observation on the Convention, the Committee referred to the findings set out in the 1990 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) (Publication No. 60), which set dose limits establishing the maximum exposure of workers and members of the general public to ionizing radiations. The Committee notes the indications of the Government in its report that it has not yet adapted the regulations to implement the dose limits recommended by the ICRP because these limits, and in particular the limits relating to small doses of ionizing radiations, are the subject of debate within international bodies concerned with protection against ionizing radiation. In this regard the Committee refers to the indications of the CFDT in its communications that recent scientific studies confirm the validity of the dose limits recommended by the ICRP. The Committee also draws the attention of the Government to the 1994 International Basic Safety Standards which adopted the dose limits set out by the ICRP. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to review maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations in the light of current knowledge.

2. The Committee is raising certain questions in a request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 1997.]