OpenLegislation

Radioactive Substances Act 1993

1993 c. 12 · Enacted 27 May 1993 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 4 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 20 December 2023.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
ActmodifiedDefence Reform Act 2014 Sch. 1 para. 5
s. 34A headingwords insertedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 14(2)
s. 34A(1A)-(1C)insertedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 14(3)
s. 34A(2)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 14(4)

F1F2X1An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to radioactive substances with corrections and minor improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.

[27th May 1993] C1I1C2C3

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C4

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Act repealed (except for ss. 49(1) for specified purposes and s. 51, Sch. 4 paras. 2, 5-9, 11) (E.W.) (1.10.2011) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2043), reg. 17 (with reg. 18(2)-(4), Sch. 3)

F2

Act in so far as still in force for E.W. repealed (except for ss. 49(1) for specified purposes and s. 51, Sch. 4 para. 5) (E.W.) (1.1.2017) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154), reg. 72 (with regs. 1(3), 77-79, Sch. 4)

Modifications

C1

Act (except ss. 1(5), 8(6), 11(1), 15 and 25): transfer of functions (W.) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

C2

Act: transfer of functions (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 2(1)(e) (with ss. 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

Act modified (E.W.S.) (1.2.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 5(2)(5)(g) (with ss. 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2.

Act modified (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 5(1)(3)(4)(5)(g) (with ss. 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3.

Act modified (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 33 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3.

Act: power to modify conferred (E.W.S.) (21.9.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.2000 for E., 14.7.2000 for S. and 15.9.2001 for W.) by 1990 c. 43, s. 78YC(b) (as inserted (21.9.1995 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.4.2000 for E., 14.7.2000 for S. and 15.9.2001 for W.) by 1995 c. 25, s. 57 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/1983, art. 3; S.I. 2000/340, art. 2(a); S.S.I. 2000/180, art. 2(1)(a); S.I. 2000/1986, art. 2; S.I. 2001/3211, art. 2(a) (with art. 3))

C3

Act: power to modify conferred (17.9.1998) by S.I. 1997/2778 (N.I. 19), art. 48; S.R. 1998/288, art. 2

Act: power to modify conferred (prosp.) by S.I. 1997/2778 (N.I. 19), arts. 1, 71

C4

Act applied in part (temp.) (E.W.) (30.11.2006) (with effect in accordance with art. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by Radioactive Substances (Emergency Exemption) (England and Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3169), art. 2

Commencement

I1

Act wholly in force at 27.8.1993 see s. 51(2).

Editorial notes

X1

[A table showing the derivation of the provisions of this consolidation will be found at the end of this Act. The table has no official status.]

Contents

  1. Preliminary
  2. 1Meaning of “radioactive material”. Repealed
  3. 1AMeaning of “radioactive material” and “radioactive waste”
  4. 1BNORM industrial activities
  5. 1CProcessed radionuclides of natural terrestrial or cosmic origin
  6. 1DRadionuclides not of natural terrestrial or cosmic origin
  7. 1DADilution to reduce concentration of radioactivity: Northern Ireland
  8. 1ERadionuclides with a short half-life
  9. 1FRadionuclides not of natural terrestrial or cosmic origin in background radioactivity
  10. 1GContaminated substances or articles
  11. 1GAHistoric radium contamination: Northern Ireland
  12. 1HSubstances or articles after disposal
  13. 1JVariation of tables in Schedule 1A
  14. 2Meaning of “radioactive waste”. Repealed
  15. 3Meaning of “mobile radioactive apparatus”.
  16. Inspectors and chief inspector
  17. 4Inspectors and chief inspector appointed by Secretary of State.
  18. 5Appointment of inspectors by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
  19. Registration relating to use of radioactive material and mobile radioactive apparatus
  20. 6Prohibition of use of radioactive material without registration.
  21. 7Registration of users of radioactive material.
  22. 8Exemptions from registration under s. 7.
  23. 9Prohibition of use of mobile radioactive apparatus without registration.
  24. 10Registration of mobile radioactive apparatus.
  25. 11Exemptions from registration under s. 10.
  26. 12Cancellation and variation of registration.
  27. Authorisation of disposal and accumulation of radioactive waste
  28. 13Disposal of radioactive waste.
  29. 14Accumulation of radioactive waste.
  30. 14ARadioactive waste: requirements to be imposed on persons authorised to dispose of and accumulate radioactive waste: Northern Ireland
  31. 15Further exemptions from ss. 13 and 14.
  32. 16Grant of authorisations.
  33. 16ATransfer of authorisations
  34. 17Revocation and variation of authorisations.
  35. 17AReview of authorisations and inspection of premises authorised in this Act
  36. 18Functions of public and local authorities in relation to authorisations under s. 13.
  37. Further obligations relating to registration or authorisation
  38. 19Duty to display documents.
  39. 20Retention and production of site or disposal records.
  40. Enforcement notices and prohibition notices
  41. 21Enforcement notices.
  42. 22Prohibition notices.
  43. Powers of Secretary of State in relation to applications etc.
  44. 23Power of Secretary of State to give directions to chief inspector.
  45. 24Power of Secretary of State to require certain applications to be determined by him.
  46. 25Power of Secretary of State to restrict knowledge of applications etc.
  47. Appeals
  48. 26Registrations, authorisations and notices: appeals from decisions of chief inspector.
  49. 27Procedure on appeals unders. 26.
  50. 28Representations in relation to authorisations and notices where appropriate Minister is concerned.
  51. Further powers of Secretary of State in relation to radioactive waste
  52. 29Provision of facilities for disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste.
  53. 30Power of Secretary of State to dispose of radioactive waste.
  54. 30ARecovery and disposal of orphan sources
  55. Rights of entry
  56. 31Rights of entry and inspection.
  57. Offences
  58. 32Offences relating to registration or authorisation.
  59. 33Offences relating to ss. 19 and 20.
  60. 34Disclosure of trade secrets.
  61. 34AOffences of making false or misleading statements or false entries.
  62. 35Obstruction.
  63. 36Offences by bodies corporate.
  64. 37Offence due to another’s fault.
  65. 38Restriction on prosecutions.
  66. Public access to documents and records
  67. 39Public access to documents and records.
  68. Operation of other statutory provisions
  69. 40Radioactivity to be disregarded for purposes of certain statutory provisions.
  70. General
  71. 41Service of documents.
  72. 42Application of Act to Crown.
  73. 43Fees and charges.
  74. 44Regulations and orders: Great Britain.
  75. 45Regulations and orders: Northern Ireland.
  76. 46Effect of Act on other rights and duties.
  77. 47General interpretation provisions.
  78. 48Index of defined expressions.
  79. 49Consequential amendments and transitional and transitory provisions.
  80. 50Repeals.
  81. 51Short title, commencement and extent.
  82. Schedule 1: Specified elements
  83. Schedule 1ATables of NORM industrial activities, radionuclides and summation rules
  84. Schedule 2: Exercise of rights of entry and inspection
  85. 1Paragraph 1
  86. 2Paragraph 2
  87. 3Paragraph 3
  88. 4Paragraph 4
  89. 5Paragraph 5
  90. 6Paragraph 6
  91. 7Paragraph 7
  92. 8Paragraph 8
  93. 9Paragraph 9
  94. 10Paragraph 10
  95. Schedule 3: Enactments, other than local enactments, to which s. 40 applies
  96. Part I: England and Wales
  97. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  98. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  99. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  100. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  101. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  102. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  103. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  104. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  105. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  106. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  107. 10AParagraph 10A Repealed
  108. 10BParagraph 10B Repealed
  109. Part II: Scotland
  110. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  111. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  112. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  113. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  114. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  115. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  116. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  117. 17AParagraph 17A Repealed
  118. Part III: Northern Ireland
  119. 18Paragraph 18
  120. 19Paragraph 19
  121. 20Paragraph 20
  122. 21Paragraph 21
  123. 22Paragraph 22
  124. 23Paragraph 23
  125. 24Paragraph 24
  126. 25Paragraph 25
  127. 26Paragraph 26
  128. Schedule 4: Consequential amendments
  129. The Continental Shelf Act 1964 (c. 29)
  130. 1Paragraph 1
  131. The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (c. 57)
  132. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  133. The Control of Pollution Act 1974 (c. 40)
  134. 3Paragraph 3
  135. The Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1049 (N.I. 19))
  136. 4Paragraph 4
  137. The Atomic Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1981 (c. 48)
  138. 5Paragraph 5
  139. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43)
  140. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  141. 7Paragraph 7
  142. 8Paragraph 8
  143. 9Paragraph 9
  144. The Atomic Weapons Establishment Act 1991 (c. 46)
  145. 10Paragraph 10
  146. The Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57)
  147. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  148. Schedule 5: Transitional and transitory provisions
  149. Part I: General transitional provisions and savings
  150. 1Paragraph 1
  151. 2Paragraph 2
  152. 3Paragraph 3
  153. 4Paragraph 4
  154. 5Paragraph 5
  155. 6Paragraph 6
  156. 7Paragraph 7
  157. Part II: Transitory modifications of Schedule 3
  158. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  159. 9Paragraph 9
  160. 10Paragraph 10
  161. 11Paragraph 11
  162. 12Paragraph 12
  163. Schedule 6: Repeals and revocations
  164. IActs of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
  165. IIRepeals in Radioactive Substances Act 1948 extending to Northern Ireland
  166. IIINorthern Ireland legislation
  167. IVSubordinate legislation
  168. Schedule TABLE OF DERIVATIONS