The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has published a new policy clarifying how its inspectors use Relevant Good Practice (RGP) to inform independent regulatory judgements.
The policy - 'Using relevant good practice in regulatory judgement' - supports efficient regulation without lowering the bar on safety, security or safeguards standards across the UK's nuclear industry.
It emphasises that RGP is a regulatory concept and not prescribed in law and explains how ONR inspectors can draw on relevant established controls, standards and approaches when assessing whether nuclear sector dutyholders are meeting goal-setting legal duties and requirements.
The policy responds directly to the government’s Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025 and forms part of the wider Taskforce implementation plan which called for a review of nuclear regulator guidance in line with revised tolerability of risk, to support a genuinely non-prescriptive regulatory system.
It sets out sources of potential good practice that inspectors may consider, ranging from Approved Codes of Practice and published regulatory guidance through to wider industry and international sources, including from sectors beyond nuclear.
Crucially, it reinforces the dutyholder’s responsibility for the management of risks to satisfy the law, and the expectation for ONR inspectors to adopt a proportionate and outcome-focussed approach in their independent decision-making, informed by RGP where appropriate.
From a safety perspective, this distinction is key to the effective application of the As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) principle, allowing industry to demonstrate compliance without unnecessary duplication of effort or 'gold-plating' of safety measures.
Publication follows a workshop last year, where ONR, the Environment Agency and the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator met with industry representatives to share their experience and understanding of RGP and how it is communicated.
The workshop, commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), addressed common misunderstandings about how the concept should be applied, particularly as the shape of the UK's nuclear industry continues to change.
Jo Holmes, ONR's Regulatory Policy Project Lead:
"This policy provides greater clarity for inspectors and dutyholders alike, setting out how relevant good practice informs proportionate, outcome-focused regulatory decision making.”
“By clearly defining responsibilities and expectations, it supports efficient regulation while maintaining the high standards necessary to protect people and society and comply with the law."
The policy will be underpinned by further inspector training and development, supporting consistent application of RGP across ONR's regulatory functions.
It sits alongside ONR's ongoing review of its Safety Assessment Principles, and wider Guidance Roadmap, which aims to deliver an updated, more transparent regulatory guidance framework.