Radioactive Substances (Use and Regulation) Act, 2020

Chapter-1
Preliminary

1. Short Title and Commencement: (1) This Act may be called the "Radioactive Material (Use and Regulation) Act, 2077".

(2) This Act shall commence on the thirty-first day from the date of its certification. 2. Definitions: Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act,-

(a) "Practice" means any human activity that increases exposure or potential exposure to additional radiation from radioactive materials and other radiation sources, or alters the network of exposure sources or pathways or pathways.

(b) "Ionizing Radiation" means radiation capable of producing ion pairs in biological material.

(c) "License" means a license issued pursuant to Section 11 to perform a specific task in relation to any practice, activity, or facility.

(d) "Licensee" means an entity that has obtained a license pursuant to Section 11.

(e) "Agency" means the International Atomic Energy Agency.

(f) "Activity" means actions related to the production, use, export, import, and transport of ionizing radiation sources, the siting, construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning or closure of facilities, radioactive waste management, and site restoration.

(g) "Transport" means the carriage of radioactive material from the place of production or storage to another place, and that word also includes the activities of preparing packages for such transport, loading onto a means of transport, storage during transit, and unloading at the final destination.

(h) "Prescribed" or "as prescribed" means prescribed or as prescribed in the rules made under this Act.

(i) "Export" means the act of exporting radioactive material and related equipment or technology out of Nepal.

(j) "Regulatory Body" means the regulatory body pursuant to Section 4.

(k) "Directive Committee" means the directive committee pursuant to Section 6.

(l) "Inspector" means a person appointed from the Regulatory Body pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 22.

(m) "Import" means the act of importing radioactive material, related equipment or technology into Nepal.

(n) "Ministry" means the Ministry of the Government of Nepal dealing with science and technology subjects.

(o) "Radioactive Material" means material capable of producing radiation such as alpha particles or beta particles or gamma rays.

(p) "Radioactive Waste" means radioactive material discharged from any practice, activity, or facility that cannot be used in its current state and emits ionizing radiation in an amount exceeding the prescribed level, or any object or article contaminated together with it.

(q) "Radioactive Source" means radioactive material and equipment capable of emitting or spreading ionizing radiation.

(r) "Emergency" means a risk or danger arising due to exposure to ionizing radiation occurring in any practice or activity.

(s) "Disposal" means the safe disposal or displacement of used fuel or radioactive waste without re-use.

(t) "Safety" means measures adopted to protect human beings and the environment from radiation risks.

(u) "Source" means any object, material, or equipment capable of emitting or spreading ionizing radiation.

(v) "Facility" means a place for the production, processing, use, storage, or disposal of radioactive material, and that word also includes the infrastructure requiring the adoption of protective measures against ionizing radiation.

(w) "Entity" means an entity established or registered under prevailing law.