Japan Fusion Energy Council Publishes Paper on Fusion Regulations

The Japan Fusion Energy Council, “J-Fusion,” has published a “White Paper on the Regulation and Safety of Fusion Energy.” The paper provides a well-considered approach to regulating fusion in Japan, with the core conclusion that fusion’s safety profile is fundamentally distinct from that of fission, and that its regulation should be risk-informed, proportionate, and grounded in scientific evidence. The paper gives a broad history and overview of fusion regulatory considerations around the world.

Importantly, the paper supports applying existing legal frameworks, particularly the Radiation Hazards Prevention Law (RI Law), to fusion machines, as this would avoid overregulation while ensuring safety remains paramount. An important inclusion is the suggestion for fusion regulations to fall under the Act on the Regulation of Radioisotopes (RI Law), instead of the Act governing fission reactors. This distinction supports the development of a risk-based regulatory framework that enables proportional safety measures without imposing unnecessary burdens that could hinder innovation, a move that closely aligns with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s 2023 decision to regulate fusion separately from fission. It is important that countries align on the need for risk-informed fusion regulatory frameworks; international harmonization is key for achieving commercial fusion on a global scale.

The FIA was happy to provide recommendations within the paper, and looks forward to continuing working closely with our Japanese fusion developer member companies Kyoto Fusioneering, EX-Fusion, and Helical Fusion, as well as with J-Fusion and the Japanese government as the regulatory environment progresses.

English Verision:

Japanese Version: