[en] Since the mid-1980s, there has been a steady number of lost, stolen or abandoned radioactive source and devices reported throughout the world. In the United States (U.S.), there are about 600,000 devices in use today that contain varying amounts of radioactive material. Because of the relatively small radiation risk imposed by these devices, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) does not routinely contract or inspect these general licensees. However, in the U.S. alone, approximately 200 sources or devices a year are reported missing to the NRC. Due to the potential for significant exposure or contamination of property, NRC has been recently concerned about occurrences where generally licensed devices have not been handled or disposed of properly. Some generally licensed devices have been accidentally melted in steel mills causing considerable contamination of the mill, the steel product, and the wastes from the process (i.e., the slag and the baghouse dust). Although known exposures have generally not exceeded the public dose limits, there is a potential for significant exposures. Due to this increasing problem, there has been much attention directed by international safety organizations and national authorities at the potential radiation and environmental hazards associated with these sources and devices. It is clear that there needs to be a balance between the many beneficial uses of radiation sources, as well as to ensure that there exists a 'cradle to grave' mechanism for the safe disposal and accountability of used, spent sources. Our challenge in the regulatory community is to have a process in place that will improve the accountability and control over devices and sources of particular concern, so that the responsible party can be contacted or inspected when the need arises. Because of the nature of the types and sizes of accidents involving radiation sources, it appears to not make the same strong imprint upon the public that accidents involving nuclear power reactors or fuel cycle facilities do. One consequence of this is that the public and political pressure for legislative and regulatory action in this area is not always as strong as for nuclear power and the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle. Equally important, however, is the fact that legislative bodies have not always provided the needed resources to the regulatory authorities so that they can implement effective radiation safety regulatory programs for all types of radiation sources. The challenge to the radiation community is to ensure that all radiation sources receive appropriate levels of regulatory attention needed to protect public health and safety. Consequently, this paper will discuss NRC's proposed regulations for general licensees to register their devices as well as other provisions that are intended to improve the accountability of generally licensed devices in the U.S. (author)