Regulatory framework plans

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) maintains a regulatory framework supported by 3 published plans. Together, these outline planned regulatory changes and long-term reviews, providing interested parties opportunities for input.

To ensure that the regulatory framework remains flexible, effective and relevant, the CNSC reviews and updates its regulatory instruments on a regular basis. There are 3 types of plans that guide the review of CNSC’s regulatory framework:

1. The Forward Regulatory Plan (FRP) is a public list, required by the Cabinet Directive on Regulation, of planned or anticipated regulatory changes (regulatory initiatives) that the CNSC intends to propose or finalize within a 2-year period.
2. The Regulatory Stock Review Plan (RSRP) is a public list, also required by the Cabinet Directive on Regulation, of planned reviews of regulations made under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) that the CNSC expects to carry out over a 10-year period.
3. The Regulatory Framework Plan (RFP) captures regulations and regulatory documents that the CNSC plans to develop or amend, including those outlined in the RFP and RSRP. It aligns with CNSC's corporate priorities and, also considers current developments in the nuclear environment.

Updated yearly, these plans are intended to give individual Canadians, Indigenous Nations and communities, businesses and trading partners greater opportunity to provide input on the regulatory reviews and plan for the future.  For 2025–26, the CNSC has created one single unified plan, the Regulatory Framework Plan, to make it easier for interested parties to review upcoming regulatory work.

CNSC 2026–27 Regulatory Framework Plan

The table lists all current initiatives as of April 1, 2026, under a single plan, which includes the FRP and the RSRP, outlining planned regulatory changes and multi-year review activities. There are 14 initiatives approved and underway, and 15 future planned reviews (i.e., future potential projects that have not yet been initiated or internally approved).

Initiative	Type	Stage	Year	Plan	Notes
REGDOC-1.1.4, Licence Application Guide: Licence to Decommission Reactor Facilities	Regulatory document	Publication	2025/26		Provide updated guidance on applying for licences to decommission reactor facilities
REGDOC-2.13 suite – Import, export and safeguards regulatory documents	Regulatory document	Consultation	2025/26		Update the regulatory documents to support completed changes to the regulations relating to import, export and safeguards
REGDOC-3.2.2, Indigenous Engagement	Regulatory document	Consultation	2025/26		Update the approach to Indigenous consultation and engagement to reflect best practices and feedback
Safety and control area (SCA) – Physical design, part 1 (REGDOC‑1.1.3, with consequential revisions to REGDOC-1.1.2)	Regulatory document	Review	2025/26	RSRP	Review physical design requirements and guidance to ensure consistency across documents
REGDOC-2.12 suite – Regulatory documents relating to the Nuclear Security Regulations	Regulatory document	Consultation	2026/27		Revise regulatory documents related to nuclear security requirements
REGDOC-2.7.2, Dosimetry, Volume I and Volume 2	Regulatory document	Review	2026/27
REGDOC-2.9 Suite - SCA Review of Environmental Requirements	Regulatory document	Review	2026/27
REGDOC-2.10.1, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response	Regulatory document	Publication	2026/27		Revise guidance on emergency preparedness and response at nuclear facilities
REGDOC-1.3.1, Licence Application Guide: Uranium Mines and Mills	Regulatory document	Publication	2026/27		Provide licensing guidance for uranium mines and mills
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Cost Recovery Fees Regulations	Regulation	Review	2026/27	RSRP	Set regulatory fees and methods for calculating licence costs; the review will reflect updates to the cost recovery structure
Uranium Mines and Mills Regulations, including associated regulatory documents	Regulation	Review	2026/27	FRP RSRP	Review and update uranium mine and mill regulations to reflect modern practices
Nuclear Security Regulations: Designation of peace officers, including associated REGDOCs	Regulation	Consultation	2027/28	FRP	Amend regulations to reflect new requirements from Bill C-21, including peace officer designations and complaint handling processes
Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment Regulations, including associated regulatory documents	Regulation	Consultation	2028/29	FRP RSRP	Modernize requirements, reduce duplication and incorporate operational experience to support safety and flexibility
Regulations Amending the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations and the Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulations, 2015, including associated regulatory documents	Regulation	Consultation	2028/29	FRP RSRP	Clarify definitions, reduce administrative burden and align with international guidance on nuclear substances and transport
SCA – Human Performance (REGDOC-2.2 Suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2028/29	RSRP	Review human performance management guidance to support safe and reliable operation of nuclear facilities
SCA – Waste management (REGDOC-2.11 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2028/29	RSRP	Review and update guidance for radioactive waste management and decommissioning strategies
Radiation Protection Regulations and SCA of Radiation (REGDOC-2.7 suite)	Regulation and regulatory document	Planned review	2029/30	RSRP	Implement amendments to strengthen worker protection and align with current scientific findings and international standards, and then update radiation protection guidance to reflect amendments to the Radiation Protection Regulations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Rules of Procedure	Regulation	Planned review	2029/30	RSRP	Review procedural rules to ensure clarity, transparency and alignment with modern administrative practices
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission By-laws	Regulation	Planned review	2029/30	RSRP	Review and update CNSC by-laws for consistency with legislative requirements and good governance
SCA – Operating performance (REGDOC-2.3 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2030/31	RSRP	Review performance expectations to enhance regulatory clarity for the operation of nuclear facilities
SCA – Fitness for service (REGDOC-2.6 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2030/31	RSRP	Update requirements related to equipment reliability, aging management and service life of key systems
SCA-Reporting (REGDOC-3.1 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2031/32	RSRP	Clarify reporting requirements and align them with operational needs and regulatory expectations
SCA – Conventional health and safety (REGDOC-2.8 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2032/33	RSRP	Enhance guidance on conventional health and safety programs within nuclear facilities
General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations	Regulation	Planned review	2032/33	RSRP	Amend regulations to improve safeguards coverage and remove outdated requirements
Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations	Regulation	Planned review	2032/33	RSRP	Modernize requirements for the licensing and operation of Class I nuclear facilities
SCA – Financial guarantees (REGDOC-3.3 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2034/35	RSRP	Review requirements to ensure licensees have funding for decommissioning and long-term obligations
Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations	Regulation	Planned review	2034/35	RSRP	Update violations subject to penalties under the NSCA to reflect regulatory and enforcement changes
SCA – Emergency management and fire protection (REGDOC-2.10 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2035/36	RSRP	Update requirements for emergency preparedness and fire protection at licensed facilities
SCA – Safety analysis (REGDOC-2.4 suite)	Regulatory document	Planned review	2035/36	RSRP	Update safety analysis requirements and methods to support regulatory compliance

Completed or removed initiatives

This section lists initiatives from the FRP, RFP and RSRP that were completed, removed, postponed or merged into other work to keep the framework clear, efficient and up to date.

Initiative	Type	Notes
Repeal and replace the Nuclear Security Regulations	Regulation	Complete: published in Canada Gazette, Part II, on Nov. 19, 2025
Regulations Amending the Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment Regulations	Regulation	Complete: published in Canada Gazette, Part II, on Oct. 8, 2025
Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (Imports, Exports and Safeguards)	Regulation	Complete: published in Canada Gazette, Part II, on Oct. 8, 2025
SCA – Management system (linked to General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations review) (REGDOC-2.1 suite)	Regulatory document	To be completed as part of the regulatory document update under Nuclear Substances Regulations package.
REGDOC-2.3.3, Periodic Safety Reviews	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities
SCA – Physical design, part 2 (REGDOC-2.5.1, 2.5.2, 2.5.4, 3.5.4)	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities
REGDOC-2.4.1, Deterministic Safety Analysis	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities
REGDOC-2.6.3, Aging Management for Nuclear Facilities, Version 2	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities
REGDOC-2.6.4, Chemistry Control for Reactor Facilities	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities
Flood hazard assessment issue (climate change lens)	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities
SCA 2.14 suite – Nuclear substances including packaging and transport	Regulatory document	To be completed as part of the regulatory document update under the Nuclear Substances Regulations package
REGDOC-3.2.1, Public Information and Disclosure	Regulatory document	Postponed for other priorities

Related links

• Regulatory consultations
• An overview of the CNSC’s regulatory framework
• Government-wide forward regulatory plans
• Cabinet Directive on Regulation
• Developing and improving federal regulations