The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) is the national authority and expert body in matters concerning nuclear security, radiation use, natural radiation and radioactive contami-nation in the environment.

As of the 1st January 2016 NRPA has been subordinate to the Norwegian Directorate of Health. With a few exceptions, the directorate has an overall professional and administrative responsi-bility for the agency.

The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority:

• -is the authority responsible for the area of nuclear security and non-proliferation
• -has an autonomous decision-making authority following the Nuclear Energy Act directly subject to the Ministry of Health and Care Services 
• -has responsibilities and an autonomous decision-making authority following the Pollution Control Act directly subject to the Ministry of Climate and Environment 
• -has responsibilities to and carries out tasks for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including carrying out work on the Nuclear Action Plan and administering a subsidy programme

It is the point of contact for reporting national and international nuclear incidents.

It participates in the Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (CERAD), which has been designated a Centre of Excellence by the Research Council of Norway.