Abstract: The basic concept of nuclear regulatory effectiveness was explained. The history and the importance of regulatory effectiveness were briefly reviewed and discussed. Research and practices of international community on regulatory effectiveness were analyzed, and external interferences on regulatory effectiveness were discussed. Basic elements of regulatory effectiveness were obtained, including regulatory independence, scope and mission, rules, resources, processes and competence. The main problems in nuclear safety supervision in China were analyzed, and the suggestions for enhancing regulatory effectiveness were proposed.

Key words: nuclear safety, regulatory effectiveness, basic elements