Veterinary radiation Possession Licence

The possession of radiation sources is regulated under the Radiation Safety Act 1999 to minimise the risks associated with radiation.

Veterinary radiation sources include:

  • laser and ionising radiation equipment
  • unsealed radioactive substances.
Know which form you need?

This page contains the following Veterinary Possession Licence application form:

Who needs this licence?

You will need a Possession Licence if you seek to have the overall ownership and control of a veterinary radiation source. This licence is needed before a radiation practice can be carried out, including acquiring or using a radiation source.

You can apply for a Possession Licence as a corporation or an individual.

Veterinary businesses commonly possess radiation sources for procedures, which include:

  • radiography of animals
  • diagnostic nuclear medicine
  • therapeutic nuclear medicine
  • surgical laser procedures
  • non-ablative laser procedures
  • radiation therapy of animals.

Veterinary businesses will need:

  • Business licences— a person needs to hold a Possession Licence for the radiation source to take overall ownership and control of the radiation source.
  • Radiation source approvals—each time before a radiation source can be purchased or otherwise obtained, the Possession Licensee will need to apply for an Approval to Acquire the radiation source. This is to ensure proper safety measures are in place and to ensure all radiation sources are accounted for.
  • Individual licences—a person who performs a veterinary radiation procedure needs to hold a Use Licence that allows them to use the radiation source for the procedure.

Responsibilities of a Possession Licensee

As part of your responsibilities as the Possession Licensee you need to:

  • Have an approved Radiation Safety and Protection Plan that describes what the radiation practice is, the associated risks, how risks will be managed and how safety measures will continue to remain effective. The plan needs to be readily available to all staff.
  • Apply for an Approval to Acquire a radiation source every time you need to purchase otherwise obtain new radiation equipment or substances.
  • Appoint a Radiation Safety Officer for the radiation practice.
  • Use the services of an Equipment and Premises Compliance Tester to assess radiation sources and premises for compliance with safety standards (at required intervals).
  • Specify which licensees can use the radiation equipment.

You are required to comply with Radiation Safety Act 1999 and the Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in Veterinary Medicine (2009).

Other relevant radiation protection codes and documents:

  • Planned Exposure Code (2016) describes the measures you will need to have in place to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. These measures need to be described in your Plan.

Radiation Safety and Protection Plan

A template veterinary Plan is available for small animal veterinary radiography. Small businesses owners can adopt this template Plan if it is suitable for their business. Alternatively, you may adapt it to better suit your business. All Plans will need to be submitted for approval with your Possession Licence application.

Manage veterinary business premises

As the Possession Licensee, you will need to ensure the premises where radiation sources are used or stored are compliant with the relevant safety standards. These standards set out the minimum radiation facility safety requirements as part of the health and safety requirements of the Radiation Safety Act 1999.

Compliance assessment of radiation sources and premises

Use the services of an Accredited Person (Equipment and Premises Compliance Tester) to assess your radiation sources and premises for compliance. Reassessment needs to occur periodically to verify continued compliance with the safety standards as per the legislation and your Plan.

You can search the public register for a list of individuals who are able to assess if your radiation source and premises comply with the relevant safety standard.

Apply for a veterinary radiation Possession Licence

Application for a licence to possess a radiation source (PDF 924 kB)

Use this form if you seek to have the overall ownership and control of veterinary radiation sources.

You can apply for a licence to possess radiation sources for veterinary procedures as a corporation or an individual.

Your application needs to include:

Updating a licence

You can apply to update your possession licence using the Application for a licence to possess a radiation source form (PDF 924 kB). Please ensure you include your current possession licence number in section C of the form as updates will be applied to your current possession licence, and the expiry date will remain the same. If updating your licence, you will not be required to resubmit proof of identity documents.

Licence duration

A Possession Licence can be for 1, 2 or 3 years.

Renewal applications can be made 60 days before your licence expires. You will be sent a reminder and renewal application form before your licence expires.

Fees

You will need to pay a licence fee. If you do not hold a current licence you will also need to pay an application fee.

If you currently possess a radiation source, you will need to apply and pay an additional fee for each source. This is particularly relevant if you are a licence holder from another jurisdiction moving your radiation sources into Queensland. You will need to formally acquire your sources via Queensland's legislated processes.

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

Last updated: 20 November 2023