The checks applied to radiation sources depend on the nature of the source and the stage of production and use reached. They are presented in chapter 4, paragraph 2.2.3.

The ASN pays particularly close attention to the use of gamma radiography appliances. In this respect, the ASN sent out a circular letter to the firms concerned on 26 April 2004, urging them to abide by the main regulatory requirements in force, following the discovery of numerous inadequacies in application of good radiation protection practices, and even some serious breaches of the regulatory requirements stipulated in the Public Health, Labour and Environment Codes. This circular letter was the subject of an information note published on the ASN web site (www.asn.gouv.fr). The ASN made inspection of establishments using gamma radiography appliances once of its priority inspection topics for 2004 and 2005. The main inadequacies concern prior evaluation and optimisation of doses, as well as the conditions for carrying out gamma radiography operations on the worksites. The ASN clearly informed the gamma radiography professionals that they would need to exert greater diligence in the operation and transport of gammagraphs.

According to the Public Health Code (articles L. 1333-7 and R. 1333-52), all users are required to have the suppliers recover the sealed sources they supplied, as soon as the user no longer needs them, and in any case no later than ten years following the date the first approval was marked on the source supply request.

The supplier is required to recover the source whenever requested by the user. It must also set up a security deposit to cover the consequences should it default and should another party or the ANDRA be required to step in to take its place. Finally, in accordance with article R. 1333-52, the supplier is required to declare any source not returned to it within the specified time.

The organisation recovering the source is required to send the user a notice of recovery mentioning the characteristics of the source and the references of its possession authorisation form. Presentation of this document is proof that the user no longer has responsibility for use of the source. On the basis of this document, the source is removed from the user's inventory in the national source inventory managed by the IRSN, but a trace of it is kept in an "archives" file.

When renewal applications are examined, in the event of closure of the company or during occasional periodic inspections, the ASN with the assistance of the IRSN systematically checks the situation and the future disposal of the sealed sources.

In order to further strengthen the guaranteed recovery of radionuclide sources and make the system easier to use, the suppliers set up a non-profit association in 1996, called Ressources, the purpose of which is to create a guarantee fund from which to reimburse ANDRA or any other approved organisation for the cost involved in recovering sources from the user, either because the supplier normally responsible for their recovery has defaulted, or because no supplier can be identified in the case of stray sources.

The Ressources association, which comprises about sixty members, has become the profession's main interface, in that it covers nearly 95% of the market for this activity.

As part of the national radioactive waste management plan (see chapter 16), solutions for the used source disposal are being studied because there is still no disposal channel for them. A draft regulation stipulating the disposal (decommissioning) method for sources is being prepared accordingly. The ASN also gave its agreement in principle for disposal in the Aube repository of sources with a half-life equal to or less than that of caesium isotope 137 (or about 30 years).