Radioactive materials regulating authorities

NRC has statutory authority to define radioactive materials as low-level waste, consistent with existing law, but has not done so. Given that NRC can only regulate radioactive materials defined in... 

In any case, and albeit the different regulation in different countries, as a general principle only licensed personnel working in an authorized facility are authorized to handle and use radiopharmaceuticals. Facilities and procedures are subject to periodic inspection by official radiation safety officers that control production and handling of radioactive material, its transportation, proper use, as well as personnel dosimetry and radioactive waste disposal. 

Although dated, this book still lists useful resources published prior to 1987. It is organized into separately authored chapters, by subject (e.g., radioactive materials, laws and regulations, and transportation), and lists more than 1600 sources (e.g., literature, organizations, audiovisuals, databases, agencies, research centers, and libraries). 

The approval requirements in the Regulations have been graded according to the hazards posed by the radioactive material to be transported. Approval is intended to ensure that the design meets the relevant requirements and that the controls required for safety are adequate for the country and for the circumstances of the shipment. Since transport operations and conditions vary between coundies, application of the multilateral approval approach provides the opportunity for each competent authority to satisfy itself that the shipment is to be properly performed, with due account taken of any peculiar national conditions. 

Users of the Regulations should be aware that a Member State may require in its national regulations that an additional approval be given by its competent authority for any special form radioactive material, Type B(U) and Type C package which is to be used for domestic transport on its territory, even if the design has already been approved in another country. 

A compliance assurance programme can only be implemented if its scope and objectives are conveyed to all parties involved in the transport of radioactive materials, i.e. designers, manufacturers, consignors and carriers. Therefore, compliance assurance programmes should include provisions for information dissemination. This should inform users about the way the competent authority expects them to comply with the Regulations and about new developments in the regulatory field. All parties involved should use trained staff. 

UN numbers for radioactive material are now used to relate requirements in the Schedules to the Regulations. This has proven to be an advantage in terms of identifying the requirements applicable to specific package or material types. UN numbers can also be used for compliance situations, performance checks and controls, data collection and other statistical purposes, should the competent authority find merit in this application. 

Work with radioactive materials is subjected to licensing procedures that may differ from country to country. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to become familiar with the regulations being issued by the relevant competent authority. Governmental regulations related to radioactive materials are also subjected to changes from time to time to maintain the state of the art of radiation protection. Scientists... 

Special form radioactive material manufactured to a design which had received unilateral approval by the competent authority under the 1973, 1973 (As Amended), 1985 or 1985 (As Amended 1990) Editions of these Regulations may continue to be used when in compliance with the mandatory programme of quality assurance in accordance with the applicable requirements of para. 306. All special form radioactive material manufactured after 31 December 2003 shall meet this Edition of the Regulations in full. 

The IAEA had previously published two companion standards to Safety Series No. 6 one entitled Advisory Material for the IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (1985 Edition) , Safety Series No. 37, and the other entitled Explanatory Material for the IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material , Safety Series No. 7. For the benefit of designers and manufacturers of packagings, consignors, carriers, competent authorities and others. Safety Series No. 37 provided advisory information about the technical requirements of the Regulations and about the methods and technology that may be employed to fulfil them the so called how of... 

International Atomic Energy Authority, IAEA Safety Standards Series publication ST-1, Regulations for the Safe Transport (f Radioactive Material, 1996 Edn, IAEA, Vieima (1996)... 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, has the authority to regulate the manufacture and distribution of radiopharmaceuticals and medical devices that contain radioactive materials. The FDA also sets performance standards for X-ray and other radiation-emitting equipment that were manufactured after 1974. The FDA also issues recommendations for the use of X-ray machines and other radiation-emitting devices. Title 10 CFR... 

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