The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is an independent UK registered charity and currently has its Scientific Secretariat in Sweden.
It was set up in 1928 to advance the science of radiological protection, for the public benefit, in particular by providing recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection against ionising radiation. ICRP is generally regarded as the authoritative international body in this field.
Although not mandatory, the ICRP’s recommendations are very influential and form the basis of regulation of the risks from radiation in most countries of the world.
Providing advice on how the UK should apply ICRP recommendations is a statutory responsibility of the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) – formerly the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB).
Find out more about on the International Commission on Radiological Protection website.
ICRP Publication 60
The ICRP’s most recent recommendations for a system of radiological protection are set out in Publication 60, published in 1991. These take account of research into the risks posed by radiation exposure and also extend the conceptual framework of radiation protection.
Summary of the current basic recommendations of ICRP (Publication 60)
ICRP review of the 1990 recommendations
ICRP completed their review and published their new recommendations in 2007 as Publication 103. The Government is currently considering, with advice from the Health Protection Agency, any change to policy or legislation that may be needed to reflect the new recommendations.