A unified and independent regulatory structure, operating at the levels of the headquarters and regional offices with input from technical support organizations, is in place to ensure nuclear safety, radiation safety, and environmental radiation monitoring and protection. Established in 1984, the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) is responsible for the regulation of civil nuclear facilities, the development of nuclear safety policies, laws, regulations, standards and plans, the issuance of nuclear safety licenses, and the coordination of nuclear safety regulation across the country. It has six regional offices in the north, east, south, southwest, northwest, and northeast of China to implement regional safety regulation. Professional technical support organizations such as the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center and the Radiation Monitoring Technical Center provide a full range of technical support for nuclear safety reviews, independent verification, surveillance, law enforcement and assessment of the radiation environment. Local governments at all levels regulate regional radiation safety through regulatory organizations or full-time/part-time regulators depending on local needs.