The Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Member State of the IAEA since 2004, enacted a law whose main objectives are as follows:

• Enable beneficial uses of ionizing radiation sources;
• Ensure adequate protection of current and future generations against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation;
• Establish a regulatory control system which aims to ensure the safety and security of peaceful applications using ionizing radiation sources, in particular by creating a competent regulatory authority for the application of the provisions of this law. and relevant international instruments.
•  Ensure the implementation of Mauritania's obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and any other international instrument in the field of safety, security and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons to which Mauritania is party.

The Mauritanian Radiation Protection, Safety and Nuclear Security Authority (ARSN) cooperates with the IAEA in all its fields of activity (nuclear and radiological safety and security, management of radiological emergency situations, nuclear safeguards, etc.)

The ARSN is responsible for:

• Design, propose and monitor the application of regulations on radiological safety and nuclear security;
• Set dose limits;
• Develop guides and codes of good practice on the safety and security of ionizing radiation sources;
• Review and assess authorization requests;
• Issue, modify, suspend or cancel authorizations for facilities and activities using ionizing radiation sources as needed and attach specific terms and conditions to them, if necessary;
• Define exemptions from regulatory control;
• Inspect and assess the facilities and activities covered by the authorization in order to verify compliance with the provisions of this law, the regulations and the terms and conditions of the authorization;
• Take all necessary measures in the event of non-compliance or violation of the provisions of this law, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the authorization;
• Define the obligations of the holder of the authorization including those relating to the financial aspects;
• Define and collect fees for authorizations and approvals;
• Establish and maintain a national register of ionizing radiation sources,
• Collect any information in the field of nuclear safety and security;

• Make available to the public all relevant information relating to radiation safety;
• Coordinate and cooperate with other national institutions concerned, particularly in the establishment and maintenance of radiological emergency plans.
• Cooperate with the regulatory authorities of other countries as well as with international organizations concerning the activities falling within its competence.
• Establish and maintain sub-regional international cooperation relations and particularly with the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of safeguards agreements.
• Implement regulatory measures related to the security of nuclear and other radioactive materials, equipment and associated facilities, including physical protection measures for the purpose of detecting and responding to unlawful acts involving such materials, equipment or facilities.
• Establish and maintain, in cooperation with relevant national institutions, a system of export and import controls on nuclear and other radioactive materials, sources, equipment, information and technology for national safety and security and to implement the State's obligations under its international commitments.
• Establish a national system of accounting and control of nuclear materials.
• Ensure the design and monitoring of the application of the regulations in terms of guarantees.

Within the framework of its missions, the ARSN has established cooperative relationships with partners either through the IAEA or through bilateral cooperation. At the national level, the ARSN has signed bilateral agreements with the Ministry of Health, Customs and ANAC

Several agreements have been signed with the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNUR), with the National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN) and with the Senegalese Nuclear Safety Authority (ARSN).

The ARSN also works closely with the Centers of Excellence of the European Union. Through this cooperation, several training sessions on CBRNs have been organized for personnel in charge of security.