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Radioactive substances users

Information and guidance for radioactive substances users who are not nuclear site licence companies.

Over 2,000 organisations in England and Wales, including hospitals, research organisations, radiographers and process industries, use radioactive materials for, amongst other things:

  • diagnosing and treating disease;
  • controlling industrial processes;
  • preventing static electricity;
  • industrial radiography;
  • scientific research.

If an organisation wishes to use radioactive substances on their premises they need our permission. We enforce this permission in England and Wales using the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.

Using radioactivity sometimes generates radioactive waste. Any organisation that wants to use a radioactive substance that will produce radioactive waste also needs our permission, as do those who wish to dispose or accumulate radioactive waste.

Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 (EPR2010)

The new Environmental Permitting Regulations were introduced on 6 April 2010. They repeal the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 in England and Wales only. Arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland will stay as they are.