Since the "Becquerel" exercise carried out in October 1996 around the Saclay site, several interministerial working parties have been set up for the purpose of defining how the various post-accident phase problems should be dealt with. Other exercises were carried out to identify the main topics involved:
– the exercise of 22 March 2005 concerned the Belleville-sur-Loire nuclear power plant. National and local working groups were set up, to prepare for the national emergency exercise. These groups in particular took account of the conclusions of the Aube prefecture task force.
– the "INEX3 FR" exercise was an international event organised by the ASN and managed by the NEA. This exercise, which took place in France on 9 December 2005, was an opportunity to confirm and classify the main problems involved in radioactive contamination of cereal crops.

One of the first noteworthy lessons learned from these exercises was the simulated restriction on the consumption and sale of foodstuffs. These exercises were an opportunity for a more detailed look at how to manage the beginning of this phase.

Finally, in a letter of 13 April 2005, sent out to the main ministerial departments and organisations concerned, the ASN proposed creating a steering committee for managing the post-accident phase of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency (CODIR-PA). The committee began its work at a meeting held on 24 June 2005. To assist with the deliberations of the CODIR-PA, a summary of all the studies conducted on post-accident phase management, both in France and abroad, was produced in 2005.

In 2005 a considerable amount of work was done to update texts dealing with the response organisation to be implemented in the event of a radiological emergency, with the issue of a circular and four interministerial directives. The ASN aims to use 2006 to adapt its organisation and test interactions between the various stakeholders. To do this, the ASN intends:
– to organise an exercise to test implementation of an emergency response organisation appropriate to radiological emergencies that could arise outside nuclear installations as defined in the circular of 23 December 2005;
– to produce a protocol for exchange of information between safety authorities, in particular comprising a standard exchange format and to propose it to its counterparts in the neighbouring countries to facilitate application of the 30 May 2005 directive on early notification;
– to create a database of national authorities with competence for assistance in the event of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency in application of the 30 November 2005 directive on assistance. This work will be done jointly with the IAEA's ERNET (Emergency Response Network) which is designed to create a joint database to allow early identification of the available international assistance;
– to lay down the framework and prepare the measures necessary for dealing with post-accident situations in accordance with the role entrusted to it in the 7 April directive on the actions of the authorities.

In collaboration with the administrations and public institutions concerned, the ASN drafted the circular of 28 December 2005 regarding exercises in 2006, ensuring that precise and factual goals can be defined sufficiently early. Defining these goals, which take account of experience feedback, will allow better preparation of the specifications and a better appreciation of how well the exercise was performed. Sufficiently early, multi-year programming will also make it easier to distribute these exercises more evenly.

The ASN will also strive to increase and diversify international relations, which are always a mine of information, with other countries (for example: Belgium, Finland, Italy, etc.).

Finally, the ASN will test the response organisation put in place by the Pierrelatte plant licensees to deal with an accident involving several of them, during an in-depth inspection. On this occasion it will simulate accidents to test coordination between licensees.