Within the European ALARA Network (EAN), initiated as early as 1996 by the European Commission, the ALARA Network for NORM (EAN_NORM) was set up in 2007. It connects experts in the field of NORM and shares experience for the implementation of the ALARA principle in non-nuclear industries. From 2007 to 2016, EAN_NORM held 8 NORM Workshops in various European countries. Building on the series of NORM Symposia that started in 1997 with the 1st NORM Symposium in Amsterdam, EU-NORM Symposia were held between 2012 and 2017. As the objectives of EAN_NORM and EU-NORM were similar and partly overlapping, in 2017 both networks decided to merge and form the European NORM Association (ENA). The founding members also include participants of the COST Action NORM4Building Project. ENA was registered on the 27th of September 2017 under Belgian law as an International Non-Profit Organisation.
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European NORM Association (ENA)
History
Objectives
The European NORM Association (ENA) is a platform of experts from:
- Industry operators and industry associations that are dealing with natural radioactivity in their raw materials, processes and residues;
- Governmental and regulatory authorities in the field of radiation protection;
- Service providers such as laboratories and consultants;
- Research and scientific organisations.
The overarching objective of the ENA is to support the safe and sustainable management of NORM in compliance with European standards and Member State legislation and according to best practice so that legal and regulatory uncertainty is minimised, and humans and the environment are protected in an optimised way that is acceptable to society.
Main Activities
ENA’s activities include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- Workshops and Conferences in a format similar to EU NORM Symposia and EAN_NORM Workshops, respectively.
- Contact Points: The network of Contact Points that was developed under EAN_NORM is continued. Experts are available to answer questions from within and outside ENA on issues such as interpretation of regulatory provisions, good practice in NORM management and occupational exposure at NORM workplaces.
- Acting as unbiased counterpart at EU level for regulations and guidelines in the field of NORM.
- Maintaining close links to “NORM industry” associations such as oil/gas producers, zirconium, etc.
- Strong relationship with IAEA (through the ENVIRONET NORM Project), IRPA, national radiation protection associations, and initiatives related to NORM such as ERA.
- Working Groups (WG) that focus on priority areas of interest:
- NORM in building materials
- NORM in industries
- NORM in the environment
- Decommissioning of NORM facilities.
For more information visit the ENA website.