United Kingdom arrangements
for national registers of
radioactive sources
Ian Streatfield
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Contents
• Introduction
• The UK Competent Authorities
• The UK HASS Inventory and HASS Database
• Council Regulation 1493/93
• Export Control
• Recent IAEA IRRS Mission
• National Nuclear Forensic Lab
• Conclusions
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Introduction
• The overall purpose of the UK’s regulatory
arrangements for radioactive sources, is to provide
high standards of safety and security, and minimise the
generation of radioactive waste.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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HASS regulators in the UK
HASS sources on nuclear
sites in Great Britain
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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HASS Inventory
• Compliant with Article 5 of COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
2003/122/EURATOM of 22 December 2003
• The holders of HASS must keep formal records of all
HASS in their possession and register the HASS with the
appropriate enforcing authority. Additionally, HASS users
are required to notify the relevant enforcing authority
whenever they come into possession of new HASS;
transfer HASS to another user; transfer HASS back to a
manufacturer; or transfer HASS to a Recognised
Installation for long-term storage.
• National database maintained by SEPA, on behalf of the
UK Competent Authorities.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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HASS Database - uses
• Waste: Sources become waste and the HASS Inventory
allows the UK to understand the likely needs for disposal
and recycling facilities for HASS waste.
• Security and regulation: Regulators use the information in
the inventory to plan and assist in inspections.
• Using information for Future Regulation: The UK used
information from the HASS inventory to identify sources that
would be affected when the UK implements the new BSSD.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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HASS Database - issues
• Administrative / funding challenges of five Competent
Authorities.
• Controlling access to sensitive information, whilst allowing
reporting and interrogation by all the Competent
Authorities.
• Changes required as a result of implementation of EU BSS
Directive 2013.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1493/93 of
8 June 1993 on shipments of radioactive
substances between Member States.
• The Regulation applies to shipments, between Member
States, of sealed sources and other relevant sources,
whenever the quantities and concentrations exceed
levels set down in EU’s Basic Safety Standard
Directive (BSSD).
• The Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly
applicable in all Member States. The regulation only
applies to shipments between Member States, not to
shipments into or out of the Community.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1493/93 of
8 June 1993 on shipments of radioactive
substances between Member States.
Two main requirements:
• A holder of sealed sources who intends to carry out a shipment of such
sources, or to arrange for such a shipment to be carried out, shall obtain
a prior written declaration by the consignee of the radioactive
substances to the effect that the consignee has complied, in the Member
State of destination, with all applicable provisions implementing the
BSSD and with relevant national requirements for safe storage, use or
disposal of that class of source. (Article 4)
• A holder of sealed sources and other relevant sources who has carried
out a shipment of such sources, or arranged for such a shipment to be
carried out, shall, within 21 days of the end of each calendar quarter,
provide the competent authorities in the Member State of destination
with specified information in respect of deliveries during the quarter.
(Article 6)
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Export Control
• The Export of Radioactive Sources (Control) Order 2006
controls the export of certain high-activity radioactive
sources as defined under the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) Code of Conduct on the Safety and
Security of Radioactive Sources.
• It was introduced as part of the Export Control
Organisation’s (ECO’s) international commitment to
minimise the risk of radioactive sources falling into the
hands of terrorists or criminal groups who may seek
sources for terrorist funds.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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IAEA IRRS Missions to Review the
UK Regulatory System.
• Three phases in 2006, 2009 & 2013.
• One recommendation in 2013 relevant to sealed
sources (and two suggestions)
• RFF6: The interaction between ONR and other regulatory
bodies (RBs) should be agreed to and better documented for
implementation of effective cooperation in regulating
radioactive sources (legislation, authorization, regulatory
functions relevant to emergency exposure situations,
registration of RS, inspection and enforcement).
• IRRS Team agreed the recommendation and
suggestions closed in 2014.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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IAEA IRRS Missions to Review UK
Regulatory System.
• In the final report from the 2014 mission the IAEA team
commended:
• the extent of progress made since 2013
demonstrating the continuous effort to improve;
• the UK and ONR's commitment to high standards of
nuclear safety and the benefits of the IRRS
process.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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National Nuclear Forensics Library
• Arrangements to help identify whether nuclear or
radioactive material found outside regulatory control is
of UK origin.
• Utilises subject matter experts with access to relevant
records and facilities.
• HASS Database is one input to the library
• An IAEA TECDOC has been drafted
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Conclusions
• The HASS database is an integral part of the UK’s
robust arrangements to ensure high standards are
applied to the safety and security of radioactive
sources.
• The arrangements comply with the IAEA Code of
Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive
Sources, IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part
3, and the Euratom HASS Directive.
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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Questions?
IAEA International Workshop on National Registers of Radiation Sources, 20 to 23 March 2017
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