Circular No. 01/2019/TT-BKHCN dated May 30, 2019 of the Ministry of Science and Technology on prescribing the assurance of security of radioactive sources

CIRCULAR

Prescribing the assurance of security of radioactive sources^[1]

Pursuant to the June 3, 2008 Law on Atomic Energy;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 95/2017/ND-CP of August 16, 2017, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

At the proposal of the Director of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Director of the Department of Legislation;

The Minister of Science and Technology promulgates the Circular prescribing the assurance of security of radioactive sources.

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular prescribes the assurance of security of sealed radioactive sources and Pu-239 used as a radioactive source of a radioactivity exceeding the notification and licensing exemption level (below collectively referred to as radioactive sources) according to national technical regulation QCVN 5:2010/BKHCN on Radiation protection - Exemption from requirements of notification and licensing, promulgated together with the Minister of Science and Technology’s Circular No. 15/2010/TT-BKHCN
of September 14, 2010.

2. This Circular applies to:

a/ Organizations and individuals that use, store and transport radioactive sources specified in Clause 1 of this Article in Vietnam’s territory;

b/ Related state management agencies, including the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, provincial-level state management agencies in charge of science and technology, and public security offices.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms   

In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Assurance of security of a radioactive source means the application of measures to prevent illegal access to, theft, appropriation, destruction, transport or transfer of such radioactive source; and application of measures to protect the confidentiality of information related to the security of such radioactive source.

2. Sealed radioactive source means a radioactive material that is sealed in a capsule of special structure or bonded in a solid form which can prevent the radioactive material from escaping or being released from encapsulation into the environment during normal usage and under probable accident conditions.

3. Security key means a key designed with a high reliability to meet the radioactive source security requirements.

4. Security zone means an area controlled to keep out unauthorized persons in order to ensure security of radioactive sources by the application of such technical measures as use of security keys, unauthorized access detectors and alarms, surveillance cameras and other administrative control measures. A security zone consists of a chamber for location of radioactive sources and entrance passageways, power source control room, security system control room, water treatment sump for the water tank for preservation of the radioactive sources, and other areas that may cause impacts on security of the radioactive sources.

5. Counting means the checking and certification of existence and quantity of a radioactive source at the place where it is located with the naked eye or appropriate radiation measuring devices or by another indirect inspection measure.

Article 3. Principles of assurance of security of radioactive sources

1. Heads of organizations or individuals that have radioactive sources shall take the supreme responsibility for the security of such radioactive sources.

2. Requirements on assurance of security of radioactive sources must conform to the danger of such radioactive sources.