Radioactivity - Exemption Orders
All existing Exemption Orders are currently being reviewed, please see the Exemption Orders Review webpage for more details.
Currently there are eighteen Exemption Orders under the Act, relating to:
- natural radioactivity
- products containing radioactivity
- specific types of undertaking
- transit of radioactivity
- substances of low activity
Orders marked with an asterisk (*) can be obtained via:
| Defra Radioactive Waste and Preparedness Room 4CErgon House Horseferry Road London, SW1P 2AL |
Tel: 020 7082 8487 Email: EO-Review@defra.gsi.gov.uk |
If the material or apparatus you are working with are covered by the scope of an exemption order, you may not be required to take any further action under the Act. However, health and safety legislation continue to apply. Any queries about the scope or application of a particular order should be addressed to the appropriate Environment Agency.
Exemption Orders relating to natural radioactivity
The Radioactive Substances (Phosphatic Substances, Rare Earths etc.) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2648
Scotland SI 1962 No 2769
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 249
Granting conditional exemption from registration and authorisation for certain substances and articles which are derived from phosphatic ores or which contain the rare earth elements of titanium, yttrium, zirconium, niobium or hafnium. This Order is widely used with the main users including: the phosphate industry; metal production; refractories and ceramics; the oil and gas industry; manufacture and use of rare earth compounds; manufacture and use of building materials.
Frequently used for the remediation of land that has been contaminated with technically-enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material.
The Radioactive Substances (Precipitated Phosphate) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1963 No 1836
Scotland SI 1963 No 1882
Northern Ireland SR & O 1963 No 218
Gives exemption from registration in respect of the keeping and use of substances which consist of, or contain, precipitated phosphate which is a by-product of the manufacture of sodium phosphate and is used solely for the purposes of cultivation.
The Radioactive Substances (Uranium and Thorium) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2710
Scotland SI 1962 No 2766
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 244
Exempts from registration and authorisation a number of commonplace materials containing natural uranium and thorium. These include thoriated tungsten used for electric lamp filaments, certain hard metal alloys, incandescent mantles, thorium dioxide ceramics and uranium glass used for certain optical equipment. The use of depleted uranium for shielding in hospitals and in radiography is also an important application of this Order but a certificate of registration may be required (see section 7).
The Radioactive Substances (Prepared Uranium and Thorium Compounds) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2711
Scotland SI 1962 No 2772
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 242
Applies to prepared compounds, commonly used in laboratories, of either uranium or thorium from which each of the radioactive decay products has been substantially removed in the course of preparation. Their use for demonstration or investigating the characteristics of any material is exempt from registration in certain circumstances and conditional exemption from authorisation is also given. It has important uses in schools and colleges.
It should be noted that it is permissible and acceptable for small amounts of unwanted laboratory chemicals such as uranium and thorium salts to be disposed of locally with non-radioactive refuse. No authorisation under RSA 93 is required provided that the conditions in this exemption order are complied with.
The Radioactive Substances (Geological Specimens) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2712
Scotland SI 1962 No 2771
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 248
Applies to specimens of natural rocks and natural minerals containing uranium or thorium or both. Exemption from registration is given for specimens kept for demonstration, investigation or sale provided that the amount of uranium and thorium in the specimens does not exceed a certain level. Conditional exemption from authorisation is given for specimens which are substantially insoluble in water. This Order is used by large numbers of suppliers of geological specimens, museums and universities which hold collections for public display and for use in research.
The Radioactive Substances (Lead) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2649
Scotland SI 1962 No 2762
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 240
Grants unconditional exemption from registration and authorisation requirements for substances and articles in common use containing lead. This Order is used by a few organisations that carry out primary and/or secondary lead smelting.
It should be noted that the Special Waste Regulations (SI 1996 No 972 for England, Wales and Scotland; and SI 1998 No 289 for Northern Ireland) are also relevant to lead disposal.
The Radioactive Substances (Natural Gas) Exemption Order
England, Wales and Scotland SI 2002 No 1177
Grants conditional exemption from registration and authorisation to businesses using natural gas and its products.
Exemption Orders relating to products containing radioactivity
The Radioactive Substances (Luminous Articles) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1985 No 1048
Scotland SI 1985 No 1048
Northern Ireland SR 1986 No 11
Conditionally exempts from registration and authorisation articles consisting of instruments, signs and indicators containing radioactive luminescent substances. It also applies to components of instruments, clocks, watches, illuminants and indicators. The Order only specifies limits for tritium and promethium-147.
The Radioactive Substances (Testing Instruments) Exemption Order
England and Wales SI 2006 No 1500
Scotland SI 1985 No 1049
Northern Ireland SR 1986 No 12
Applies to scientific and technical instruments which are used for measuring radioactivity and for investigating the properties of substances. These instruments incorporate or are accompanied by closed radioactive sources for the purpose of calibration. It gives conditional exemption from registration and authorisation for disposal.
It should be noted that this order is not applicable to premises that manufacture, store, hire or exhibit small sources.
The Radioactive Substances (Smoke Detectors) Exemption Order (as amended)
*England and Wales SI 1980 No 953
England and Wales SI 1991 No 477
Scotland SI 1980 1599 and SI 1991 No 563
Northern Ireland SR 1980 No 304
Provides conditional exemption from registration for loose smoke detectors which incorporate closed sources and smoke detectors which incorporate closed sources which are attached or affixed to premises. Exemption from registration is also given for the use of smoke detectors in mobile radioactive apparatus. The disposal of smoke detectors by return to manufacturers who deal in the same kind of radioactive material, or to persons who are authorised under the Act to dispose of such sources, is exempt from authorisation.
The Radioactive Substances (Gaseous Tritium Light Devices) Exemption Order
*England, Wales and Scotland SI 1985 No 1047
Northern Ireland SR 1986 No 10
Conditionally exempts from registration and authorisation
articles consisting of illuminants, instruments, signs and indicators
which include sealed containers incorporating tritium gas.
It should be noted that this Order specifically excludes manufacturers
of such articles.
The Radioactive Substances (Electronic Valves) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1967 No 1797
Scotland SI 1967 No 1803
Northern Ireland SR & O 1967 No 313
Gives exemption from registration and authorisation in respect of certain valves used in such things as telecommunications and radar equipment.
It should be noted that the manufacturers of these valves are not covered by this exemption .
Exemption Orders relating to specific types of undertaking
The Radioactive Substances (Hospitals) Exemption Order (as amended)
England, Wales and Scotland SI 1990 No 2512
England, Wales and Scotland SI 1995 No 2395
Northern Ireland SR 1993 No 54 (No amendment made yet)
Applies to private and National Health Service hospitals and provides conditional exemption from registration for radioactive materials kept for the purposes of medical diagnosis, treatment of patients or supply to another hospital. It also gives conditional exemption from authorisation in respect of the disposal of wastes arising (particularly human excreta) from the administration of very low doses of radioactive materials to patients.
It should be noted that the exemption from registration and/or authorisation does not apply where a registration is already in force in respect of the premises.
The Radioactive Substances (Schools etc) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1963 No 1832
Scotland SI 1963 No 1878
Northern Ireland SR & O 1963 No 219
Conditional exemption from registration and authorisation to most schools, teacher training colleges and some colleges of further education for closed sources containing any radionuclides and also open sources which contain beta and/or gamma emitting radionuclides other than strontium-90. It does not cover independent or grant maintained schools.
The Radioactive Substances (Exhibitions) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2645
Scotland SI 1962 No 2768
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 250
Exempts from registration the use of small quantities of radioactive materials at trade exhibitions. It does not include exhibitions on school or retailers' premises.
Exemption Orders relating to the transit of radioactivity
The Radioactive Substances (Waste Closed Sources) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1963 No 1831
Scotland SI 1963 No 1877
Northern Ireland SR & O 1963 No 222
Conditionally exempts waste closed sources from authorisation provided they are returned to a manufacturer who deals in the same kind of radioactive material, or to a person who is authorised under the Act to dispose of such sources. Exemption from authorisation to remain in storage is also provided under certain conditions . This is widely used by industry, hospitals and universities when the sources require replacing at the end of their working life
The Radioactive Substances (Storage in Transit) Exemption Order
*England and Wales SI 1962 No 2646
Scotland SI 1962 No 2765
Northern Ireland SR & O 1962 No 246
Grants exemption from registration or authorisation for the temporary storage of radioactive materials or waste below specified limits whilst in transit. This is not widely used in industry as most consignments of radioactive materials either take place between premises registered for storage or the transport arrangements do not involve storage in transit.
Exemption Orders relating to substances of low activity
The Radioactive Substances (Substances of Low Activity) Exemption Order (as amended)
England, Wales and Scotland SI 1986 No 1002
England, Wales and Scotland SI 1992 No 647
Northern Ireland SR 1990 No 115
Exempts from registration and authorisation man-made radioactive substances which possess such low levels of activity that they pose negligible radiological risk. It is only applicable to solid waste which is substantially insoluble in water, organic liquids and short lived gases.
Page last modified: 1 September 2008