United Kingdom strategies and experience for regaining and maintaining control of radioactive sources

The United Kingdom has been producing, using, importing and regulating radioactive substances for more than 50 years. Over that time, arrangements have been developed that have generally provided effective control of radioactive sources. Some arrangements are statutory; others are provided on a voluntary basis by industry. These include regulatory authorities, legislation, plans to deal with certain types of incident and 'long stop' arrangements when no other arrangements are available. The paper outlines the United Kingdom legislation and regulatory authorities, and describes the current arrangements. It goes on to describe new and planned developments that have been driven by the emergence of the European Union's High Activity Sealed Source Directive, recognition of terrorist threats and modernization initiatives from the regulators. (author)