Implementation of the EU Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM in industry.

The 1996 EU Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM defines a series of specific requirements related to the safe use of radiation sources and to public and occupational exposure. The implementation of these requirements is seen in comprehensive radiation protection measures undertaken at user site and in regulatory practice. The implementation of the 96/29/EURATOM in the last years in Slovenia led to a comprehensive two-step process of authorisation of practices involving ionising radiation. The process is based on the assessment of risk associated with a practice involving radiation and a source. One of the steps includes either a registration or a permit issued by the regulatory authority to use a specific radiation source. The authorisation process has been described in detail in Slovene legislation. The 96/29/EURATOM also includes reporting intention to carry out a practice involving radiation, which is a new tool in Slovene legislation. The implementation of the 96/29/EURATOM has improved overall radiation protection in industry was improved thanks to well-defined requirements such as classification areas for control.