The role of the Safety and Security Department is to support the Director-General in all matters related to safety, quality assurance and security, regulatory requirements, and compliance with respect to host country safety and security regulations.

The Department acts as the interface between Safety and Security host authorities and the ITER Organization. It operates as the second level of control according to French nuclear quality law and the International Atomic Energy Agency that is entrusted with the oversight of safety for compliance with regulatory requirements.

To fulfill its obligations, the Department develops, maintains, and enforces the safety management and control system for the ITER Organization, develops and maintains a quality assurance programme for ITER and enforces these standards across the project - including the Domestic Agencies, and develops and maintains safety and security standards with respect to site safety and site operation.