Ionising and non-ionising radiation
Specific activities involving radiation require a licence in accordance with, for example, the Radiation Act and the Nuclear Activities Act, as well as technical devices that are subject to permits that generate ionising radiation and that are professionally acquired, transferred, marketed, or imported, must be notified to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. Examples of activities involving radiation that are subject to authorisation are:
High Activity Sealed Sources (HASS)
Activity regarding ionising radiation with a sealed radiation source with high activity, known as HASS, is subject to permits. High activity sealed sources are used, for example, in training, calibration, inspection, analysis and research activities.
Installation and maintenance services of technical devices
Activities regarding ionising radiation, such as installing and maintaining technical devices that can generate ionising radiation or otherwise physically handle a specialised device containing a radioactive substance, are subject to permit.
Unsealed radiation sources
Activities involving ionising radiation with unsealed sources are subject to permit if activities exceed a specific value. These values are specified in the annexe to the SSMFS 2018:2 regulation. Unsealed sources are used in research and control activities.
Industrial radiography
Activities with ionising radiation with industrial radiography, i.e., imaging of materials for inspection or analysis – non-destructive testing or NDT – are subject to permit. For such imaging, specialised equipment capable of generating ionising radiation or containing a radioactive substance in a sealed source is used. Radiography is referred to as unsealed or sealed depending on the design of the space where the radiography is carried out.
Strong laser pointers (non-ionising radiation)
To handle strong laser pointers, i.e. laser classes 3R, 3B and 4, with output power above 1 milliwatt (mW), requires a permit from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, according to Chapter 5 Section 9 of the Radiation Safety Regulation (2018:506). Handling strong laser pointers refers to possessing, manufacturing, buying, receiving, using, selling, giving away, borrowing, renting, or importing into Sweden. Permission is only granted to those who need such a laser pointer for the proper purpose and only if it can be assumed that the laser pointer will not be misused.
Transport of radioactive substances
Transporting radioactive substances in Sweden is subject to permit by the government or the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority assesses whether the person applying for a permit is competent to transport safely. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority requires that the transport of radioactive substances is safe. In addition to permits under the Nuclear Activities Act or the Swedish Radiation Act, all requirements of the Act on the Transport of Dangerous Goods must also be met.
Those intending to carry out activities involving ionising or non-ionising radiation covered by these regulations must notify the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. No activity may commence until the authority has confirmed that an application has been received. The confirmation shows how long the registration is valid. Changes in activities related to the information in the notification must be notified to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority as soon as possible. Those transferring or making available a source of radiation must inform the recipient that the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority’s regulations apply and ensure that the recipient has reported the activity or holds a permit following the Radiation Protection Act (2018:396) concerning radiation sources.