Ionising Radiation

UK Government Publishes Consultation Outcome and Response on Rolls-Royce SMR Justification

Defra has published the consultation outcome, including the summary of responses and government response, for the Nuclear Industry Association’s justification application for the Rolls-Royce small modular reactor, confirming that the Secretary of State has decided the practice is justified under UK ionising radiation regulations. This consolidates the regulatory case for the Rolls-Royce SMR while signalling that secondary legislation and subsequent approval processes will be the next critical milestones for organisations and investors assessing UK nuclear deployment plans.

9 May 2026, 18:57gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Pennsylvania HB 2017: Senate First Consideration of Radiation Protection Act Amendments for Microreactor and Small Modular Reactor Fees

In May 2026, the Pennsylvania Senate began considering HB 2017, a bill amending the 1984 Radiation Protection Act to define small modular and microreactors and adjust nuclear facility and transport fee provisions. If enacted, the measure would give regulators more flexibility to tailor fees for new reactor technologies, potentially reducing cost barriers while still funding radiation protection and emergency preparedness.

8 May 2026, 18:09palegis.usUnited States

New York Assembly Bill A11029 on Environmental Radiation Reporting Advances to Third Reading

New York lawmakers are advancing Assembly Bill A11029, which would require the state environmental agency to publish an annual public report on radioactive releases and notify other agencies when contamination exceeds legally defined limits for drinking water or food. If adopted, this would increase transparency and inter-agency oversight of radiological contamination, signalling closer scrutiny of facilities operating under New York’s radioactive materials and water and food safety standards.

8 May 2026, 07:46assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

China MEE Issues 2026 Guide on Nuclear Safety Reports for Nuclear Power Plant Operating Units

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has issued a revised 2026 edition of its Guide for Nuclear Safety Reports of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Units, effective 1 May 2026 and replacing the 2020 guide. Nuclear power plant operators should update reporting templates, data systems and governance processes so that monthly, quarterly, annual and incident reports submitted under existing nuclear safety reporting regulations fully align with the new guide.

5 May 2026, 15:57mee.gov.cnChina

UK Regulators Publish Study on Regulation of Medical Radioisotope Supply

In April 2026, UK nuclear, environmental and health and safety regulators published a joint study explaining how the existing regulatory framework governs current and future medical radioisotope production and supply. The report signals that while no immediate legal changes are proposed, future investment and siting decisions for accelerator, reactor and legacy-waste-based radionuclide production will hinge on clarifying nuclear licensing boundaries, REPPIR emergency-planning thresholds and permitting expectations for novel radionuclides.

5 May 2026, 06:52assets.publishing.service.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Washington State DOH Proposes Editorial Amendments to Radiation Contact Information Rules (WAC 246-222-080 and 246-243-205)

Washington State’s Department of Health has proposed editorial amendments to two radiation protection rules to remove embedded contact details and clarify informal review and temporary job site notification procedures, with comments and a virtual hearing scheduled for 9 June 2026. While the proposal does not change underlying radiation safety obligations, licensees and registrants should track adoption so their communication and notification practices reflect the updated rule structure and contact channels.

4 May 2026, 19:56doh.wa.govUnited States

Netherlands Publishes Strategic Research Agenda for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy

In April 2026 the Dutch Parliament published a non-binding strategic research agenda outlining how the Netherlands should build a leading ecosystem for targeted radionuclide therapy, from radionuclide supply and GMP infrastructure through clinical research, dosimetry and data platforms. This roadmap signals future expectations for coordinated investment, HTA-driven evidence generation, and closer engagement with regulators on registration, reimbursement and radiation safety, giving radiopharmaceutical developers and hospitals early insight into likely direction of travel rather than new legal duties.

3 May 2026, 14:59zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Maryland Enacts SB915 on Registration of Limited X‑Ray Machine Operators

Maryland has enacted SB915 (Chapter 214), establishing a new registration, training, and disciplinary regime for limited X-ray machine operators under the State Board of Physicians effective 1 October 2026. Hospitals and physician practices that rely on non-licensed staff for basic X-ray imaging must ensure staff meet the new registration standards, adjust delegation and supervision protocols, and plan for ongoing compliance and oversight.

3 May 2026, 14:41mgaleg.maryland.govUnited States

Murcia Region and Nuclear Safety Council Confirm No Radiological Risk at Zinsa and Strengthen Radiological Oversight

In April 2026 the Government of the Region of Murcia and Spain’s Nuclear Safety Council confirmed that soils at the former Zinsa site in Cartagena show no radiological risk and agreed to intensify joint oversight and remediation planning. The combination of a pending €2 million sanction, continued work on other contaminated sites and an expanded radiological inspection programme for 2025–2026 signals sustained regulatory scrutiny of radiological safety and legacy contamination in the region.

3 May 2026, 09:17carm.esSpain

Commission Recommendation (Euratom) 2026/403 on Diagnostic Reference Levels for Radiodiagnostic Examinations and Interventional Radiology Procedures

In February 2026 the European Commission adopted Euratom Recommendation 2026/403, setting out detailed good practices for how EU countries should establish, review, and use diagnostic reference levels for radiodiagnostic examinations and interventional radiology. Although non-binding, this guidance is likely to trigger renewed dose surveys, protocol updates, and investment in dose-monitoring systems across hospitals and imaging centres, tightening alignment with the Basic Safety Standards Directive and the emerging European Health Data Space.

28 Apr 2026, 19:46eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

UN TDG Sub-Committee Drafts Alignment Of Model Regulations With 2025 IAEA Radioactive Material Transport Rules

The IAEA has submitted a detailed working paper to the UN Sub-Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods proposing to align the UN Model Regulations for radioactive material transport with the 2025 edition of its SSR-6 (Rev. 2) safety standard, including a full rework of radionuclide activity tables, new NORM definitions, and wide-ranging editorial and technical updates. Once adopted into the twenty-fifth revised edition, these changes will cascade into global modal and national rules, forcing nuclear, medical, industrial and logistics operators to revisit classification, package design, dose-rate and TI/CSI calculations, labelling and long-term transition planning ahead of proposed legacy cut-offs around 2035.

28 Apr 2026, 19:05docs.un.orgGlobal

US NRC Submits OMB Renewal Request for NRC Form 748 National Source Tracking System Report

NRC has asked the US Office of Management and Budget to renew the existing NRC Form 748 National Source Tracking System information collection, with public comments due by 26 May 2026. The renewal keeps respondent counts and burden hours unchanged, signalling that licensees using high‑risk sealed radioactive sources should expect current NSTS reporting obligations to continue while watching for any future adjustments to the form or programme.

28 Apr 2026, 18:27federalregister.govUnited States

Washington DOH Adopts Final Rule Updating Radionuclide Air Emissions Reference (WAC 246-247-035)

Washington’s Department of Health has adopted a final update to WAC 246-247-035 so that Washington’s radionuclide air emissions rule now incorporates the 2026 version of the federal standards in 40 C.F.R. Part 61, effective 21 May 2026. For operators of facilities with radionuclide air emissions this is an administrative alignment, with no new emission limits, but permits and compliance records should be checked to ensure they reference the updated federal text and delegated state programme.

26 Apr 2026, 16:48doh.wa.govUnited States

Environment Agency Consults On Offshore Petrofac Radioactive Substances Permit Application (EPR/WB3053TU/A001)

The Environment Agency has opened consultation on a new bespoke radioactive substances permit application from Petrofac Facilities Management Limited to manage NORM wastes from decommissioning in the Hewett gas field in the Southern North Sea, with comments due by 20 May 2026. Oil and gas operators involved in offshore decommissioning should track this decision as it signals permitting expectations for handling NORM waste streams from similar projects and may influence future conditions and costs.

25 Apr 2026, 10:51gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Slovenia Closes Consultation on Draft Regulation on Use of Radiation Sources and Radiation Activities

Slovenia’s nuclear safety authority has closed the public consultation on a comprehensive draft regulation governing the use of radiation sources and radiation activities, publishing a revised text and detailed responses to stakeholder comments in April 2026. The draft, which implements the Euratom Basic Safety Standards, would significantly tighten licensing, quality management and security obligations for industrial, medical and research users of ionising radiation from 2027 onwards, making early compliance planning important for affected operators.

25 Apr 2026, 10:47gov.siSlovenia

US FDA Seeks Comment on Extension of Radioactive Drug Research Committee Information Collection

FDA has opened a 60-day comment period, closing on 16 June 2026, on extending the existing information collection for Radioactive Drug Research Committees that oversee basic research uses of radioactive drugs under 21 CFR 361.1. Organisations that run or support RDRCs should review the burden estimates for OMB Control Number 0910-0053 to confirm they reflect current practice and decide whether to submit comments before the deadline.

22 Apr 2026, 20:57federalregister.govUnited States

French Senate Bill to Accelerate Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine in Oncology

France has tabled a Senate bill establishing a five-year national plan and new regulatory framework for therapeutic nuclear medicine in oncology, including joint oversight of radioactive clinical trials and exceptional hospital preparation of radiopharmaceuticals. If adopted, hospitals, clinical trial sponsors, and radiopharmacies will face clearer expectations on care pathways, radioprotection and reporting to ANSM, shaping future investment, capacity planning and compliance for radiopharmaceutical supply.

22 Apr 2026, 20:19senat.frFrance

Pennsylvania HB2450 Proposes Higher Nuclear Facility and Radioactive Transport Fees

Pennsylvania legislators have introduced HB2450 to amend the Radiation Protection Act by defining independent spent fuel storage installations and substantially increasing nuclear facility and radioactive shipment fees. If enacted, nuclear plant operators and shippers moving high-level radioactive materials through Pennsylvania would face higher annual and per-shipment charges to fund state radiation protection and emergency response, raising compliance costs but strengthening oversight of spent fuel and transport risks.

22 Apr 2026, 18:58palegis.usUnited States

Michigan MIOSHA Approves Rulemaking Request on Ionizing Radiation Machine Operator Qualifications

Michigan’s occupational safety regulator has approved a request to open rulemaking on ionizing radiation machine operator qualification rules, signalling planned updates to Part 5 of the state’s ionizing radiation regulations in April 2026. Employers using radiation machines in Michigan should anticipate potential changes to training and qualification requirements and prepare to review draft rules and compliance timelines once they are published.

21 Apr 2026, 20:16ars.apps.lara.state.mi.usUnited States

EU Radiopharmaceuticals Horizon-Scanning Report From EMA and HMA

In April 2026, EU medicines regulators published a horizon-scanning report on radiopharmaceuticals that highlights rapid innovation, regulatory gaps, and vulnerabilities in radionuclide supply and specialist capacity across the EU over the next decade. The analysis signals likely updates to EU guidance and GMP, closer alignment between medicines and radiation-protection rules, and new measures to secure radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chains, so companies should anticipate tighter expectations and evolving market conditions rather than immediate new legal obligations.

21 Apr 2026, 15:04ema.europa.euEuropean Union