Medical radiation Approval to Acquire

The acquisition of radiation sources is regulated under the Radiation Safety Act 1999 to minimise the risks involved with radiation. This includes medical radiation sources.

To purchase or otherwise obtain a radiation source for your medical business you will need an Approval to Acquire and a licence to possess the radiation source. This process helps to ensure that the necessary safety and risk measures are in place and that the radiation sources meet generally acceptable safety requirements.

Medical radiation sources include:

• laser equipment
• X-ray equipment
• unsealed radioactive substances.

Who needs this approval?

Every time you seek to purchase or otherwise obtain a new medical radiation source for your business you will need to hold an Approval to Acquire the radiation source before you can take overall ownership and control. Your Possession Licence will detail the type of radiation source you are allowed to possess and what radiation practice it can be used for.

Radiation sources are commonly acquired for medical procedures, which include:

• medical imaging
• nuclear medicine
• radiation therapy
• surgical procedures.

Acquire a medical radiation source

To purchase or otherwise obtain a particular type of radiation source you will need to complete the associated form.

Apply for an Approval to Acquire:

• radiation equipment
• an unsealed radioactive substance or iodine 125-seeds
• a sealed radioactive substance.

Your application needs to include:

• your Possession Licence number and expiry date
• details of the radiation source and supplier (including radionuclide, chemical form and activity for radioactive substances)
• details of how any radioactive substance will eventually be disposed of (where applicable)
• a copy of the sealed radioactive substance certificate from the manufacturer (where applicable).

Approval duration

Time limited approval is granted to allow the change of ownership and transfer of control of the radiation source to occur. Approval durations generally last 1 month to allow the physical transfer to occur.

Fees

You will need to pay an application fee.

See Schedule of fees to determine the fee you will need to pay. Your form will only be considered a complete application once the appropriate fee has been paid.

Apply for an Approval to Acquire radiation equipment

Application for Approval to Acquire a radiation apparatus (PDF 843 kB)

Use this form each time you seek to purchase or otherwise obtain laser or ionising radiation equipment.

Medical radiation equipment includes:

• laser equipment
• X-ray equipment—such as plain film, computed tomography, fluoroscopy, mammography or bone mineral density equipment.
• radiation therapy devices—such as linear accelerators, computed tomography equipment or superficial X-ray units.

Apply for an Approval to Acquire an unsealed radioactive substance or iodine 125-seeds

Application for Approval to Acquire an unsealed radioactive substance or Iodine - 125 Seeds (PDF 847 kB)

Use this form each time you seek to purchase or otherwise obtain an unsealed radioactive substance or iodine 125-seeds.

The medical industry uses unsealed radioactive substances in nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. This includes unsealed radioactive substances in the form of a radiopharmaceutical.

Approval duration for unsealed radioactive substances

You can apply for an Approval to Acquire a radioactive substance as a single occurrence. You can also apply for an approval that allows you to continue to acquire a radioactive substance over a duration of time within your Possession Licence term.

Apply for an Approval to Acquire sealed radioactive substances

Application for an Approval to Acquire a sealed radioactive substance (PDF 852 kB)

Use this form each time you seek to purchase or otherwise obtain a sealed radioactive substance.