About SSK

Working methods

The working method is regulated for SSK by the respective SSK articles. Normally, advisory tasks are assigned to SSK by the responsible Federal Ministry. However, SSK is authorized to also select its own advisory topics. Consultations are conducted in the presence of competent experts from the Ministry. In agreement with the Chairman of SSK, the Federal Ministry may assign a committee with advisory tasks, if the issue is fully within the committee's field of expertise and not requiring deliberation by the Commission itself.

SSK is also concerned with present-day radiological protection issues and is occasionally discussing such matters with the competent Federal Minister.

As a result of its advisory activity, SSK decides on statements and recommendations to be released on the deliberated topics. Such material is usually prepared by the committees as a draft. Decisions are passed by majority vote. The recommendations passed by majority vote are published by the competent Federal Ministry and appear in the Federal Bulletin. Since 1985, and in order to be accessible to a broader circle of readers, the recommendations, as well as detailed statements on current radiological protection issues also appear in the SSK series: "Publications of the Commission on Radiological Protection"; since 1988, some of them appear in two languages, German and English.

In support of the Commission and the committees, working groups may be instituted ad hoc to deal with current questions and to prepare also statements and recommendations.

SSK advised the competent Federal Ministry on the formulation of guidelines. Furthermore, in support of the advisory activity of RSK, the Commission also formulates statements on licensing procedures for nuclear installations.

The working methods are regulated for committees under § 6, section 2, of the statutes and largely corresponds with those of the Commission.

Since 1981, closed sessions are held each year where the major scientific topics are generally discussed. Since the closed session of 1985, the manuscripts of the presented topical reports appear in the SSK series "Publications of the Commission on Radiological Protection".

The topics, discussed in past closed sessions, are: