Radioactive substances legislative amendments in the UK: concepts employed in the development of the new exclusion and exemption regime

A new radioactive substances regulatory regime came into effect across the UK on 1 October 2011, accompanied by Government and regulator's guidance. The legislation sets new activity thresholds for what is within its scope and for what is exempt from the permitting requirements. These thresholds are, for the first time, clearly based on the levels in the Basic Safety Standards Directive; distinguish between NORM industrial activities and practices; and are derived from different dose constraints. There are new exemption provisions for NORM, aqueous liquids and gaseous wastes. (paper)