Legislation and policy

This page displays links to some of the radioactive substances legislation and government policy related to SEPA's duties:

  • Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 
    This European directive lays down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation.

  • Energy Act 2004
    This act created the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and set out their duties.

  • Environment Act 1995
    This act established the Environment Agency (EA) and SEPA.

  • High activity Sealed Radioactive Sources and Orphan Sources Regulations 2005
    These regulations make provision for the control of high-activity sealed radioactive sources and orphan sources (as required by the HASS Directive) and make relevant amendments to the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.

  • HASS (Scotland) Directions 2005
    These directions were made by Scottish Ministers, under the terms of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. They require SEPA to implement certain provisions of the HASS Directive (Council Directive 2003/122/EURATOM), when exercising its regulatory powers.

  • SEPA Guidance on the High-activity Sealed Radioactive Sources and Orphan Sources Regulations 2005  (250k)
    This guidance is intended for users of sealed sources at Band B and Band C (ie non-nuclear) premises, but is also used by SEPA staff involved in radioactive substances registrations and authorisations. (updated 6 Aug 2007)

  • OSPAR Radioactive Discharges Strategy 
    This strategy aims to ensure progressive reduction of concentrations of radioactive substances in the marine environment so that by 2020 they are close to zero or historic levels.

  • Policy for the Long Term Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste in the UK 
    This policy covers all aspects of the generation, management and regulation of solid low level radioactive waste.

  • Radioactive Substances Act 1993
    The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 is the regime under which we regulate the keeping and use of radioactive substances, and authorise the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste.

  • Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community
    The main purpose of this treaty is to contribute to raising the standard of living in the Member States and to develop relations with the other countries by creating the conditions necessary for the speedy establishment and growth of nuclear industries. It is relevant to SEPA as it is under this treaty that directives regarding safety of the public and environment are created.

  • UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges 2001–2020
    This strategy sets out how the UK will implement the OSPAR Radioactive Discharges Strategy.

  • Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2007
    These regulations give SEPA the responsibility for investigating, identifying, characterising and regulating the remediation of radioactively contaminated land.

  • The Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2007
    These amended regulations give SEPA the responsibility for investigating, identifying, characterising and regulating the remediation of radioactively contaminated land.

  • Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 2000
    These regulations amend the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 in order to implement the requirements of the Basic Safety Standards Directive (Council Directive 96/29/Euratom) in relation to the disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste arising from clocks or watches.

  • Radioactive Substances (Basic Safety Standard) (Scotland) Direction 2000 
    This direction requires that SEPA ensures that certain requirements of the Basic Safety Standards Directive (Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM) are complied with. One of these requirements is to ensure that authorised discharges of radioactive waste do not give rise to radiation doses greater than 1 millisievert to members of the public.