In the field of radioactive source distribution, it is relatively rare for the supplier, who is also very rarely the manufacturer, to deliver an isolated source. It generally also distributes a range of appliances containing sealed and unsealed radionuclides. The number of companies involved in the distribution of radioactive sources or devices is stable in relation to the previous year. Table 7 shows this trend.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of licences issued for the possession and use of sealed sources, primarily due to the growth in the number of devices for detecting lead in paint. It should be noted that a licence can cover the simultaneous use of both sealed and unsealed sources. Table 8 shows a slight rise in users of sealed sources and relative stability in users of unsealed sources.

Movements of radioactive sources around the country are illustrated in table 9.

Periodic checks are carried out on the inventory of sources allocated to a user and on their movements, in particular by comparing them with the data in the reports from the approved organisations leading to on-site checks.

The French inventory of equipment intended for industrial or research activities is today poorly known, insofar as past regulations, based on a simple notification, were poorly applied. Furthermore, unlike the system put in place for sealed radioactive sources, there was no centralised inventory system supplied with data about transfers between suppliers and users.

However, the creation of a licensing system and the increasing number of field inspections are likely gradually to improve the data available on the generator inventory.

The number of installations using electrical generators of ionising radiation for industrial, research or veterinary purposes is currently estimated at several thousand.