Particular conditions for the use of radioactive sources
(the texts marked with * denote the most frequently used)

- licensing of sealed sources: conditions applicable to the recovery and disposal of expired sources or sources which are no longer used (CPAs)*;
- extension of the licence to use radioactive sealed sources of artificial radioelements beyond the ten-year period stipulated in the CPAs;
- use of natural krypton gas;
- use of gaseous phase leak detectors on underground piping;
- use in hydrology;
- use for measuring air renewal rates;
- use of portable devices*;
- use of adsorbed tritium sources;
- use for ionisation of electron tubes and discharges;
- use for combustion smoke or gas detectors*;
- use of sealed sources for reference, calibration and testing*;
- distribution of laboratory reagents, calibration sources and measuring or analysis instruments;
- use of sources which, in nuclear power reactors are employed as start-up sources, or in fixed radiation protection channels for unit control systems, or in boron meters and power range measurement channel control systems as well as in irradiation specimen capsules.

Table 3: scope of application of the main particular conditions of use for radiation sources

Particular conditions for the use

The CIREA (Interministerial Commission on Artificial Radioelements), which until 2002 was responsible for giving its opinion on issues relating to artificial radioelements had, for activities requiring licensing, set particular conditions of use (CPEs) designed to inform the future licensee of the conditions for applying the regulations in its field of activity. Until such time as a text of at least equivalent scope is published, the CPEs are still in force in accordance with decree 2002-460. Table 3 on the previous page presents the areas in which the main CPEs are applied.

The more commonly used of these CPEs will then be transcribed into orders, while the others will remain particular technical specifications recalled in the individual licences. This is why, given the scale of the risks involved in the practice of gamma radiography, an order was published in March 2004 to update the conditions for use of gamma radiography appliances and cancel the corresponding CPE.
  2.2 Radionuclide source management rules
These rules, already presented in chapter 3, point 1.2.4, are of course also applicable to the fields of industry and research. It should be remembered that these rules concern:
- the obligation to obtain a licence prior to any transfer or acquisition of sources;
- preliminary registration of all source movements to the IRSN;
- book keeping by the licensee of detailed accounts for the sources in his possession, and their movements;
- immediate notification to the Prefect and the ASN of any loss or theft of radioactive sources;
- return by the user, at its own expense, to its suppliers - who are then obliged to take them - of sealed sources that have expired, are damaged or are no longer needed.
  2.3 Licensing procedures

For each nuclear activity mentioned in table 2 above and requiring licensing by the Minister for Health, the corresponding application is examined by the ASN. It must be submitted by the person in charge of the nuclear activity jointly with the head of the establishment or his representative. This dossier should be drawn up on the basis of a form to be collected from the ASN and returned to it, accompanied by all elements requested.

The dossier should establish that radiation protection guarantees are in place and effective and that they were defined taking account of the principles of justification, optimisation and limitation specified in article L. 1333-1 of the Public Health Code. This dossier should therefore comprise elements concerning:
- the justification for the application;
- the conditions of possession and use of the sources;
- the presence of a person with competence in radiation protection;
- the characteristics and performance of appliances containing the sources held and used;
- radiation protection provisions;
- drafting of safety instructions;
- the precautions taken against the risks of theft or fire.

When examining the licensing applications, the ASN may, as it sees fit, call on the expertise of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) and, if necessary, that of organisations whose competence it recognises in the fields of radionuclide source safety and the safety of electrical generators of radiation.

In 2005, the ASN continued with its actions to promote handling of licensing applications by its regional divisions. The ASN is therefore gradually entrusting the Regional Departments for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (DSNRs) with the examination of certain licences, for example those concerning the possession and use of gammagraphs, gammadensimeters or appliances for detecting lead in paint.
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