Sweden has a comprehensive regulatory infrastructure for nuclear and radiation safety, but should establish national strategy addressing competence needs, taking into account the possible expansion of nuclear power, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

An IAEA integrated regulatory review service (IRRS) team said Sweden needs to ensure that the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), the national regulatory authority for nuclear and radiation safety, has sufficient qualified staff to fulfil all statutory and regulatory functions.

An assessment of competence needs would enable SSM to have a clear understanding of the behaviour and levels of performance it needs to achieve results.

The mission, conducted at the request of Sweden’s government and hosted by SSM, was part of the second Swedish IRRS cycle. The first IRRS mission in Sweden took place in 2012 with a follow-up review in 2016.