Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 406 Adopted 18 September 2001

Procedures for Packaging and Labelling Sources of Ionising Radiation

Issued pursuant to
Section 23, Paragraph two
of the law On Radiation Safety and Nuclear Safety

I. General Provisions

1. The Regulation prescribes the procedures for packaging and labelling sources of ionising radiation, including radioactive substances.

2. It shall be permitted to demonstrate sources of ionising radiation whose packaging and labelling fail to conform to the requirements of this Regulation in fairs, exhibitions, and other events, provided that the source of ionising radiation bears a radiation warning sign with a radiation symbol and an inscription "radioaktīvs" [radioactive] (Annex), as well as a clearly legible indication of the prohibition on trade.

II. Packaging of the Source of Ionising Radiation

3. The following shall be used for the packaging of sources of ionising radiation:

3.1. the primary packaging - packaging which comes into contact with a sealed source of radiation (a radioactive substance which is placed in a hermetically sealed capsule or is in a solid state and tightly bound, preventing any dispersion of radionuclides in the environment under normal conditions of use), or with an unsealed source of radiation (a radioactive substance which is not in the form of a sealed source of radiation);

3.2. the outer packaging - packaging into which the primary packaging or an ionising radiation installation that does not contain a radioactive substance is placed.

4. The primary packaging and the outer packaging of a source of ionising radiation (hereinafter - the packaging) shall conform to the following criteria:

4.1. durable under the conditions of use and storage intended by the manufacturer;

4.2. the structure and material of the packaging ensure that loss of radioactive content does not occur during storage of the source of ionising radiation;

4.3. loss of radioactive content does not occur after re-closing of the packaging (if the packaging is intended to be re-closed);

4.4. the packaging material does not form any chemical compounds with the packaged unsealed source of radiation or does not respond to effects thereof.

5. An entrepreneur who manufactures, imports, exports, distributes, or leases sources of ionising radiation (hereinafter - the entrepreneur) shall ensure that the packaging of a source of ionising radiation cannot be opened by children.

6. The packaging of an ionising radiation installation shall ensure constant operating state of the relevant installation provided for by the manufacturer of the source of ionising radiation during storage and transportation thereof.

III. General Requirements for the Labelling of the Source of Ionising Radiation and Packaging Thereof

7. Each source of ionising radiation and packaging shall be labelled with a label containing information regarding the relevant source of ionising radiation and the radiation warning sign. If the longest side of the source of ionising radiation is shorter than 3 cm, the radiation warning sign need not be put on the label. The label shall be glued or attached.

8. The radiation warning sign shall occupy not less than 1/10 of the label surface or not less than 5 cm².

9. The labelling of a source of ionising radiation and its packaging shall be ensured by the entrepreneur if the source of ionising radiation is intended for sale, lease, or demonstration.

10. If it is necessary to restore the labelling of a source of ionising radiation or a source of ionising radiation is packaged additionally, or several sources of ionising radiation are combined together in a single piece of packaging, transformed or a ionising radiation installation is created therefrom, the labelling shall be ensured by the user of the relevant source of ionising radiation (hereinafter - the user) or the entrepreneur.

11. The labelling of a source of ionising radiation which has been received as a donation or humanitarian aid shall be ensured by the user in accordance with this Regulation.

12. The entrepreneur or the user shall ensure that the labelling of a source of ionising radiation and its packaging:

12.1. corresponds to the source of ionising radiation;

12.2. is clearly visible, understandable, and durable when using the source of ionising radiation or storing it in the packaging.

13. The label shall be made of a material which is resistant to different working environment and climatic conditions. Background colour of the label shall be white.

14. The entrepreneur shall include the radiation warning sign in all instructions for use of a source of ionising radiation, informative sheets thereof, and other documents which contain a description of the relevant source of ionising radiation.

15. The labelling of a source of ionising radiation shall not contain any indications that the source of ionising radiation does not pose any threats ("not dangerous", "not harmful", "no labelling is necessary", "verified", "approved", "environment", "nature", or any combinations of the relevant words).

16. A source of ionising radiation and its packaging shall not bear any signs or inscriptions which might be confused with the radiation warning sign.

17. In addition to the information specified in Paragraph 20, 21, 27, 28, or 31 of this Regulation, the following shall be indicated on the label of the outer packaging of a source of ionising radiation:

17.1. the name of the source of ionising radiation;

17.2. special storage conditions, if any;

17.3. the information regarding harmful effects of the source of ionising radiation on humans and environment by specifying characteristics of the relevant source of ionising radiation which cause the most harmful effects;

17.4. general safety requirements that must be followed when storing, moving, and unpacking the source of ionising radiation.

18. If the outer packaging of a source of ionising radiation contains several units of primary packaging, the outer packing shall be labelled in conformity with the transportation requirements for radioactive materials.

19. Dimensions of the label on the packaging shall be determined, taking into account the size of the packaging:

19.1. if volume of the packaging is 0.003 m³ or less, the minimum dimensions of the label shall be 50 x 75 mm;

19.2. if volume of the packaging exceeds 0.003 m³ but is less than 0.05 m³, the minimum dimensions of the label shall be 75 x 100 mm;

19.3. if volume of the packaging is starting from 0.05 m³ but does not exceed 0.5 m³, the minimum dimensions of the label shall be 100 x 150 mm;

19.4. if volume of the packaging exceeds 0.5 m³, the minimum dimensions of the label shall be 150 x 200 mm.

IV. Labelling of Unsealed and Sealed Sources of Radiation and Their Packaging

20. The following information shall be indicated on the label of the primary packaging of an unsealed source of radiation:

20.1. the symbol or designation of each radionuclide;

20.2. the type and energy (MeV) of ionising radiation;

20.3. the total or specific radioactivity (Bq or Bq/g) of a radioactive substance and the date of measuring thereof;

20.4. the dose rate of ionising radiation (Gy/h or Sv/h) and the distance and date of measuring thereof;

20.5. the type and identification number of the unsealed source of radiation specified by the manufacturer of the source of ionising radiation;

20.6. the qualitative and quantitative content of radioactive impurities;

20.7. the quantity of the radioactive substance (in units by mass or volume) and physical state thereof;

20.8. the date of manufacture of the unsealed source of radiation;

20.9. the name, legal address, and telephone number of the entrepreneur.

21. The following information shall be indicated on the label of a sealed source of radiation and its primary packaging:

21.1. the symbol or designation of each radionuclide;

21.2. the type and energy (MeV) of ionising radiation;

21.3. the total radioactivity of the sealed source of radiation (Bq) and the date of measuring thereof;

21.4. the dose rate of ionising radiation (Gy/h or Sv/h) and the distance and date of measuring thereof;

21.5. the qualitative and quantitative content of radioactive impurities;

21.6. the fixed radioactive contamination (Bq/cm³) - such radioactive contamination which cannot be removed from the surface of the sealed source of radiation under normal conditions. Such contamination does not cause environmental contamination, but may increase the dose rate of ionising radiation;

21.7. the type and identification number of the sealed source of radiation specified by the manufacturer of the source of ionising radiation;

21.8. the date of manufacture of the sealed source of radiation;

21.9. the name, legal address, and telephone number of the entrepreneur.

22. The radiation warning sign shall be firmly attached or painted on visible surfaces of a sealed source of radiation, as well as on the packaging of an unsealed or sealed source of radiation in which the relevant source of ionising radiation is placed for a long time.

23. If an unsealed source of radiation is intended for sale and it is impossible to indicate all the necessary information on a label of its primary packaging, it shall contain the symbol and designation of each radionuclide, the total or specific radioactivity by specifying the quantity of radioactive substance, as well as the date of manufacture.

24. If it is impossible to indicate the necessary information on a label of a sealed source of radiation and of its primary packaging, the label shall contain the symbol of each radionuclide, the type and identification number of the sealed source of radiation specified by the manufacturer of the source of ionising radiation, as well as the date of manufacture.

24.¹ A manufacturer or importer of a source of ionising radiation shall engrave or stamp an identification number on each high-activity sealed radioactive source and its primary packaging.

[7 March 2006]

25. If it is intended to use an unsealed source of radiation or a sealed source of radiation only inside an undertaking (company) or an institution where activities with sources of ionising radiation are permitted, the label shall contain the following information:

25.1. the symbol or designation of each radionuclide;

25.2. the total or specific radioactivity (Bq or Bq/g) of a radioactive substance and the date of measuring thereof;

25.3. the type and identification number of the source of ionising radiation specified by the manufacturer of the source of ionising radiation;

25.4. the date of manufacture of the relevant source of ionising radiation;

25.5. the quantity of the radioactive substance (in units by mass or volume) and physical state of the unsealed source of radiation.

26. Unsealed sources of radiation which are used temporarily inside an undertaking (company) or an institution and which have resulted from activities with radioactive substances (for example, tools, objects, or measuring containers) shall be labelled by the user with a label containing the following information:

26.1. the symbol or designation of a radionuclide;

26.2. the total or specific radioactivity (Bq or Bq/g) of a radioactive substance and the date of measuring thereof;

26.3. the quantity of the radioactive substance (in units by mass or volume).

27. The following information shall be indicated on the label of the primary packaging of radioactive waste:

27.1. the name of the radioactive waste and the symbol or designation of each radionuclide;

27.2. the total radioactivity of the radioactive waste (Bq) and the date of measuring thereof;

27.3. the name, legal address, and telephone number of the radioactive waste packing undertaking (company).

V. Labelling of the Ionising Radiation Installation

28. The minimum dimensions of a label of an ionising radiation installation shall be 75 x 100 mm. The label shall be placed on the front or top of the installation in an easily accessible and visible place. The following information shall be indicated on the label:

28.1. for an ionising radiation installation which contains a sealed source of radiation:

28.1.1. the symbol or designation of each radionuclide;

28.1.2. the type and energy (MeV) of ionising radiation;

28.1.3. the total radioactivity of the sealed source of radiation (Bq) and the date of measuring thereof;

28.1.4. the fixed radioactive contamination, if any (Bq/cm²);

28.1.5. the dose rate of ionising radiation of the ionising radiation installation in the on and off position (Gy/h or Sv/h) and the distance and date of measuring thereof;

28.2. for an ionising radiation installation which does not contain a radioactive substance:

28.2.1. the type of the generated ionising radiation;

28.2.2. the energy of the generated ionising radiation (MeV);

28.2.3. the dose rate of the generated ionising radiation (Gy/h or Sv/h) and the distance and date of measuring thereof;

28.2.4. the beam rate (kW) of the primary ionising radiation and the date of measuring thereof;

28.2.5. the electric power (kW);

28.2.6. the indication that the ionising radiation is generated if the ionising radiation installation is turned on, and characterisation of the generated ionising radiation (for example, "x-rays").

29. The radiation warning sign shall be firmly attached to an ionising radiation equipment or painted on visible surfaces thereof.

30. The user shall take off the radiation warning sign if an object is no longer hazardous, i.e. an ionising radiation installation which does not contain a radioactive substance is dismantled, or a sealed source of radiation is removed from an ionising radiation installation which contains a sealed source of radiation.

31. In addition to the label specified in Paragraph 28 of this Regulation, an operating device of an ionising radiation installation shall be labelled with permanent and impact-protected labelling. The minimum dimensions of the labelling shall be 75 x100 mm. The following information shall be indicated in the labelling:

31.1. the name and address of the manufacturer of the ionising radiation installation;

31.2. the designation of the series or type and the serial number of the ionising radiation installation (if any series);

31.3. the year of manufacture of the ionising radiation installation;

31.4. the electric power of the ionising radiation installation (kW);

31.5. the total mass of the ionising radiation installation (kg);

31.6. classes of working conditions which indicate conditions of use of the relevant ionising radiation installation.

32. Classes of working conditions:

32.1. climatic conditions - class C:

32.1.1. C1 - ionising radiation installations which are used in a confined space where the necessary constant temperature and humidity are controlled;

32.1.2. C2 - ionising radiation installations which are used in a confined space where temperature and humidity are not controlled;

32.1.3. C3 - ionising radiation installations which are used outside confined spaces under average climatic conditions (not used in polar and desert areas);

32.2. mechanical conditions - class M:

32.2.1. M1 - ionising radiation installations which are used in places with a low level of vibration and high cover against mechanical shocks;

32.2.2. M2 - ionising radiation installations which are used in places with a medium level of vibration and medium cover against mechanical shocks;

32.2.3. M3 - ionising radiation installations which are used in places with a very high level of vibration without any cover against mechanical shocks;

32.3. electromagnetic conditions - class E:

32.3.1. E1 - ionising radiation installations which are used in light industry and trade;

32.3.2. E2 - ionising radiation installations which are used in heavy industry.

Informative Reference to a Directive of the European Union

[7 March 2006]

This Regulation contains legal norms arising from Council Directive 2003/122/Euratom of 22 December 2003 on the control of high-activity sealed radioactive sources and orphan sources.

Prime Minister A. Bērziņš

Minister for Environmental Protection and
Regional Development V. Makarovs

 

Annex
Cabinet Regulation No. 406
18 September 2001

Radiation Symbol and Warning Sign

I. Radiation symbol

Figure 1

1. Radiation symbol is in the form of a clover leaf. Its proportional parts are arranged around the central circle the radius of which is X (Figure 1).

II. Radiation warning sign and standard dimensions thereof

RADIOACTIVE

Figure 2

2. Radiation warning sign is a triangular with a black or orange radiation symbol on yellow background. Sides - black or orange (the yellow part is at least 50 per cent of the sign area) (Figure 2).

3. Size of the radiation warning sign shall be determined according to the distance from which it is required to see the sign:

No.	Distance from the sign (m)	X (mm)	Size of the sign A (mm)
1.	< 1.0	1.5	30
2.	1.0-1.5	2.5	50
3.	1.5-2.0	3.5	80
4.	2.0-5.0	5.0	100

Minister for Environmental Protection and
Regional Development V. Makarovs

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Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)