Every year, this report presents the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France. It also presents all ASN actions performed during the past year to supervise and improve the safety of French civil nuclear facilities and of the transport of radioactive materials, and to check and minimise exposure of workers, patients, the public and the environment to ionising radiation.

Since 2004, via the "ASN multiyear strategic plan", it also presents the ASN's orientations and goals for the coming 3-year period.

This report, which is the fruit of collective analysis and synthesis work, in which all ASN entities take part, provides an annual record of the changes and difficulties encountered, in both the technical and organisational spheres, within the companies and organisations subject to supervision. It also widens the scope of the debate to include nuclear safety and radiation protection projects and prospects.

The report and its summary are sent to many of the ASN's partners abroad, notably the nuclear safety authorities of various countries. Since 1996, the report has been translated into English to further exchanges between nuclear safety authorities and inform all foreign stakeholders in the nuclear safety and radiation protection sector.

The report is available in French and in English on the website www.asn.gouv.fr.

Since 1978, the ASN has published a two-monthly information publication on nuclear facility safety which, in October 1994, changed its name to "Contrôle, the Nuclear Safety Authority magazine".

In France, Contrôle is distributed to national and local elected representatives, the media, journalists, members of the CSSIN and the CLIs, the environmental protection and other associations, the licensees and administrations concerned. Private individuals can also obtain it on request. Abroad, Contrôle is in particular sent out to the nuclear safety authorities of the countries with which the ASN has regular contacts.

The Contrôle print run comprises 8,500 copies and it consists of two parts.

The first part is devoted to news. It reports on what the ASN is doing: supervision of BNIs and of transports of radioactive and fissile materials used for civil purposes; decisions, formal notices and international relations of the ASN; activities of the CLIs, the CSSIN, the interministerial commission on basic nuclear installations (CIINB) and expert groups.

The second part, entitled "Dossiers de Contrôle", presents a special report on an aspect of nuclear safety or radiation protection. Contrôle presents ASN policy concerning the subject chosen and also makes its pages available for the expression of a wide variety of opinions. Publication of these points of view helps lay the foundations for a broader debate and encourages the emergence of a pluralistic form of information, taking greater account of the concerns and expectations of public opinion.

The press conferences organised at each publication of Contrôle are regularly attended by journalists from the general and specialist "nuclear", "environment" and "medical" press.

In 2005 Contrôle covered the following subjects:;

– January           -> The safety of the fuel cycle (n° 162)
- March              -> ASN report on nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in
                            2004: extracts (n° 163)
– May                -> The EPR reactor (no. 164)
– July                -> Radioactive waste management in France (no. 165)
– October           -> Monitoring nuclear safety and radiation protection (no. 166)
– December        -> Radiation protection: the international stakeholders (no. 167)

Contrôle is free and is distributed on the basis of voluntary subscription (subscription form available on www.asn.gouv.fr or by mail from the following address: ASN Publications, 6, place du Colonel Bourgoin, 75572 Paris Cedex 12).

The ”Dossiers de Contrôle” are also published separately and widely distributed to the public at fairs and exhibitions attended by the ASN. They can also be obtained from the website www.asn.gouv.fr. Back numbers can also be consulted in the public information and documentation centre.