Cap. 585 Art. 12The Secretariat.

(1) There shall be set up the Secretariat for the Commission, hereinafter referred to as "the Secretariat", which shall act as the executive of the regulatory authority in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection.

(2) The Secretariat shall have such functions as may devolve on it under any other law or as may be assigned to in writing by the Minister. In the case that other regulations are in force governing occupational, public and medical exposures, or environmental protection and safety of sources, which in some way address the uses of ionising radiation or non-ionising radiation, or any other substance the use or exposure of which is regulated by this Act, the Secretariat shall recommend to the Commission, if it considers it necessary, to make recommendations to the Minister for the reallocation of the regulatory responsibility to the Secretariat itself or to some other authority as the Secretariat after consultation with the Commission deems fit.

(3) It shall be the function of the Secretariat to:

(a) issue authorizations and grant exemptions concerning the possession and use of radiation sources;

(b) inspect, monitor and assess activities and practices for the purpose of verifying compliance with this Act, applicable regulations and the terms and conditions of authorizations and, or licences;

(c) maintain a national register of radiation sources and a national register of undertakings;

(d) gather the required data to enable an assessment of total exposure from all practices and work activities in Malta and including the distribution of the individual occupational and public exposures for each type of practice, and to enable the setting up of a national register for occupational exposure to ionising radiation;

(e) establish and maintain a national system of accounting for and control of nuclear material and a national system for the registration of licences for nuclear material, and to establish the necessary reporting and record keeping and requirements pursuant to the Safeguards Agreement, and Additional Protocol;

(f) develop the necessary strategies for the implementation of the objectives of the Commission;

(g) advise the Commission on any matter it may refer or on any matter which is considered necessary or expedient; and any such duties as the Commission may assign from time to time;

(h) provide technical advise to the Minister or other governmental entities; and

(i) conduct any other functions that are deemed necessary by the Commission, to protect people and the environment of Malta.

(4) Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Act and to any regulations made thereunder, the Secretariat shall, following consultation with the Commission, adopt rules of procedure which shall regulate every stage of its operations.

(5) The Secretariat shall be responsible for keeping the proceedings referred to in article 12(3) and also a register wherein the findings and rulings of the Secretariat shall be entered.