Radioactive substances legislation - scope: guidance

Introduction and background

General

The legislative means by which radioactive substances are regulated in the United Kingdom differ between the devolved administrations; however, the effects of the legislation are broadly consistent. This guidance only applies to the regulation of radioactive substances activities in Scotland under the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR)^[1]. Separate guidance is available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland^[2].

EASR transposes the aspects of European Council Directive 2013/559/Euratom^[3] (BSSD 13) and the International Atomic Energy Agency basic safety standards^[4] relevant to protection of the public and the environment.

EASR only applies to regulated activities. For the purposes of EASR a regulated activity is a radioactive substances activity, where a radioactive substances activity is one involving either or both radioactive material and radioactive waste.

EASR and this guidance do not apply to a person carrying on a regulated activity where the activity is a domestic activity carried on in connection with the person’s private dwelling or a place where the person is resident, i.e. it does not apply to private individuals.

This guidance is about radioactive substances activities that are ‘out of scope’ of EASR. If an activity is ‘out of scope’ it is not subject to any regulatory requirements under EASR.

All terms used in this guidance have the same meaning as given in the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018.

Any references in this guidance to Tables is to the Tables as numbered in this guidance rather than as numbered in EASR.