Ever since Japan started using radioisotopes around 1945, the utilization of radiation in the country has made rapid progress in many fields. Radiation is now indispensable to the lifestyle of the Japanese people.
Under such circumstances, the need arose to both reinforce and streamline national safety regulations pertaining to the use of radiation. For example, the Law concerning the Prevention of Radiation Hazards due to Radioisotopes, etc.(abbreviated here as the Radiation Hazards Prevention Law) was amended in May 1980. The amendment established a national system for the inspection and confirmation of radiation facilities and related matters, and introduced a system of designated agencies, under which non-governmental civil organizations, designated by the government, are assigned to carry out certain duties within that system.
The Radiation Safety Technology Center, a juridical person, was set up on October 1, 1980, to carry out the amendment to the law. It was established through the joint efforts of government and industry, after being granted permission by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport. The center served as the designated agency for several duties, and also conducted various activities for prevention of radiation hazards.
Later with the progress of development of advanced type power reactors and that of industries related to nuclear fuel cycle in Japan, an amendment was also made in May 1986 to the Law for the Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors (abbreviated here as the Reactor Regulation Law), introducing a similar system. The Radiation Safety Technology Center was then called upon to extend its activities beyond radiation hazards prevention to cover a wide range of nuclear safety-related issues. It was officially reorganized on October 1,1986, and renamed the Nuclear Safety Technology Center (NUSTEC), its present name.