Present Status and Prospects: the Legal Adjustment of the Utilization for Nuclear Energy in China

China began to construct the nuclear industry since 1950s. Over the past 50 years, nuclear energy has played a vital role in the improvement of people’s living standard and the construction of the national economy. From when the first regulation on the utilization of nuclear energy was promulgated in 1986, China has initially formed a legal system of the utilization of nuclear energy in the hierarchy of law, administrative statutes, divisional rules, local statutes and rules and international convention, with the coverage of the supervision of nuclear facilities, import and export of nuclear product, etc. Followed the implementation of the legal regulations on nuclear energy, some issues such as the absence of basic law, lower legal hierarchy, and imperfect legal provisions have gradually emerged which affected the function of the legal system of the utilization of nuclear energy. Therefore, it is urgent with the acceleration of the construction and promulgation of the Atomic Energy Act, the confirmation of the competent authority managing the utilization of nuclear energy, and the improvement of legal regimes including planning, nuclear control, radioactive waste management, radiation protection, compensation for nuclear damages and legal liability.