Wellington, New Zealand - Tuesday 13 December 2011
Following Cabinet approval in October, the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the operational science and technical functions of the National Radiation Laboratory (NRL) from the Ministry of Health, effective Wednesday 1 December 2011.
Through NRL, ESR will now provide first response services for New Zealand in the event of a national or international radiation emergency. The Crown Research Institute will also provide evidence-based science to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and others to inform policy on radiation matters.
The National Radiation Laboratory (NRL) provides expert advice, research and services on public, occupational and medical exposure to radiation. NRL’s services include on-site inspections of all radiation users and the measurement of radiation and radioactivity for agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and food companies.
ESR Chair Dr Susan Macken says that the completion of the transfer is a significant step towards greater shared access to world-leading science and technology for the benefit of New Zealand and New Zealanders.
"This consolidation of scientific services further reinforces ESR as a 'one-stop-shop' provider of health-related scientific advisory services.
"NRL and ESR have complementary scientific operations that will allow ESR to offer new services by introducing physics, and more specifically, radiation science capabilities to ESR," says Dr Macken.
NRL has a compatible product mix that complements ESR’s existing Health, Food and Water Programmes by providing testing of radiation levels for food export certification and scientific advice for the development of regional water standards among others.
ESR Chief Executive Graham Smith says following the acquisition, ESR will make scientific and research investments to provide a commercial science environment for NRL to grow its services.
"The services performed by NRL will strengthen existing relationships and facilitate the development of new customers," says Mr Smith.
The regulatory functions of NRL, including the issuing of licences for users of radioactive materials or irradiating apparatus, will remain with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health’s regulatory administration team will be based at the Ministry’s Hazeldean premises in Christchurch.
The operational science and technical functions acquired by ESR will continue to be provided from NRL’s Victoria Street premises in Christchurch.
"We are grateful for the support and leadership of the Ministry of Health and NRL staff over recent months to complete the transfer of operations," says Mr Smith.
"I particularly want to thank NRL staff for their proactive support and we welcome them to our organisation."
- ends -
For further information, please contact:
David Talbot
General Manager, Business Development & Marketing
ESR
Mobile: 027 566 5102
Email: david.talbot@esr.cri.nz
About NRL
The NRL’s origins can be traced back to the establishment of the post of Travis Radiological Physicist to the New Zealand Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society in 1933 and the appointment of John Austin Strong to this post in November of that year.
The position required the development of a radiation calibration and protection service for hospitals in New Zealand, and the operation of a radon plant at a base laboratory at Wellington Hospital.
The NRL maintains links to international bodies concerned with radiation protection and associated health issues.
NRL’s current operations that ESR will now perform can be grouped into the following services:
- Dosimetry services - customers include radiation and radioactivity users in hospitals and industry in New Zealand and in Australia through Australian Radiation Services Pty Ltd (ARS).
- Calibration services - customers include the medical and industrial sectors, including radiotherapy centres and entities using equipment for monitoring and emergency response purposes.
- Radioactivity analytical services - this workstream provides environmental monitoring, including food, soil, water and atmospheric radiation. Customers include ARS, Comprehensive Nuclear Test-ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, NIWA, Environment Canterbury and food companies.
- Emergency response and incident investigation - NRL maintains a national capability to respond to an event where radiation is released.
- Monitoring of stations - through CTBTO, NRL is contracted to operate and maintain six monitoring stations in New Zealand and the Pacific.
- Scientific consultancy and regulatory scientific and operational activities - NRL provides scientific advice to government agencies. The agencies involved include Ministry of Health, to inform policy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to interpret data in relation to the CTBTO Treaty. NRL also carries out on-site inspections of users of radiation and provides training.
About ESR
ESR is one of eight Crown Research Institutes owned by the government on behalf of the people of New Zealand. ESR’s work underpins the health and justice systems in New Zealand through the provision of science services and research.
ESR is:
- principal science advisor to the Ministry of Health
- sole provider of forensic services to the New Zealand Police
- a science partner of MAF
- science provider to New Zealand Customs, Medsafe, and Department of Corrections
- science advisor for local authorities, industry organisations, and the private sector
For further information see: www.esr.cri.nz
Download PDF copy