Explanatory note

This order which extends to England, Wales and Scotland, is concerned with exemptions and exclusions under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 in respect of radioactive luminous instruments and indicators.

Article 2 provides a general exemption from registration under section 1 of the Act in respect of the keeping and use of such articles on any premises, subject to the conditions set out in Article 3.

Articles 4 and 6 exclude radioactive waste arising from the keeping or use of such articles from the provisions of sections 6(1) and 7(1) (which require a person to secure authorisation before disposing or accumulating of such waste). The exclusion is limited to waste disposed of through a waste collection authority or its contractor, or to a person authorised under the Act to receive such waste or a person manufacturing similar radioactive articles or components.

Article 5 provides that no authorisation is required under section 6(3) of the Act for the further disposal of waste mentioned in the previous paragraph which is received by a local waste collection authority and mixed with other refuse.

This order replaces the orders mentioned in Article 7. Luminous articles containing radioactive tritium gas which were also the subject of the revoked orders are the subject of the Radioactive Substances (Gaseous Tritium Light Devices) Exemption Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/1047) which comes into operation concurrently with this order. Measurements of radioactivity, which formerly were specified in curies are now specified in becquerels, following adoption of the International System of Units (SI Units). Approximate equivalents in curies to values specified in the order are—