8.1. The regulatory decision making process may involve one or several regulatory bodies and may also be scrutinized by the public and other interested parties. The credibility of the process is enhanced if the regulatory body takes a coordinated approach in order for interested parties to observe that regulatory decisions are based on a careful and comprehensive examination of the safety case that has been prepared by the operator and submitted to the regulatory body for approval (see para. 3.8). The review should be undertaken in accordance with plans defined for the regulatory review process and in accordance with the requirements established in Ref. [44] and the recommendations provided in Ref. [45]. Some important elements of the process of regulatory review of the safety case and safety assessment for disposal facilities are discussed in the following sections. The guidance provided on review of the safety case is also relevant for other review processes, such as internal review within the operator organization or independent external peer review.