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The UK nuclear liabilities regime

The UK nuclear liabilities regime The UK is a party to the international nuclear liabilities regime established by the 1960 Paris Convention and its subsequent amendment agreements. These international obligations are implemented by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (NuIA 1965), as amended by various primary and secondary legislation to reflect Convention amendments and UK policy choices within the permitted parameters. The most recent of these is the Energy Act 2023 (EnA 2023), which amends the NuIA 1965 to implement the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC). EnA 2023 also gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations to implement the CSC or otherwise for the purposes of dealing with matters related to, or arising out of, the CSC. This Practice Note summarises the evolution and current position of UK nuclear liability law and discusses the changes brought about by the EnA 2023 to the NuIA 1965. What is the international treaty background to the UK nuclear liabilities regime? 1960 Paris Convention The UK signed the...

Nuclear decommissioning—health and safety

Nuclear decommissioning—health and safety What is the impact of Brexit on the UK nuclear sector? As of 31 January 2020 (exit day), the UK ceased to be an EU Member State. However, at this point in time, the UK entered a transition/implementation period during which it continued to be treated by the EU as a Member State for many purposes. The UK’s exit from the EU also meant the UK’s exit from the Euratom Community. 11 pm (GMT) on 31 December 2020 marked the end of the Brexit transition/implementation period. At this point in time (referred to in UK law as ‘IP completion day’), key transitional arrangements came to an end and significant changes began to take effect across the UK’s legal regime. The UK’s exit from the EU also meant the UK’s exit from Euratom. Any changes relevant to this content are set out below. Following IP completion day, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EU(W)A 2018) created a new category of domestic UK law—‘retained EU Law’ (REUL)—made...