Law No. 120-II on radiation safety

Article 1. The aim of the present Law The present Law aims to regulate the relationship associated with securing of radiation safety, protection of life, health and property of citizens, as well as protection of environment from deleterious effects of ionizing radiation.

Article 2. Basic terms The present Law deals with the following basic terms: ionizing radiation - means radiation created under radioactive decay, nuclear changes or charge particles deceleration in the substance, and which interaction with an environment generates differentions; ionizing radiation source - is a device and (or) active material either radiating or capable to radiate ionizing radiation; the users of ionizing radiation sources - used to denote legal or natural entities who mine, produce, generate, process, use, store, serve, transport, render harmless and bury (dispose) ionizing radiation sources; radiation-control area - denotes a territory outside the buffer area where radiation monitoring is implemented; radiation accident - means loss of ionizing radiation source control caused by equipment failure, action (idleness) of workers (personnel), natural and industrial extraordinary situations that either led or may lead to irradiation of persons above the set up norms or to environment radioactive contamination; radiation safety - is a state of protectability of persons and environment from ionizing radiation deleterious effect; buffer area - denotes a territory around ionizing radiation source in which the persons irradiation level, under normal operation conditions of the given source, may exceed the general limit of radiation dose established for population; natural radiation background - is considered to be radiation amount created by cosmic radiation and natural radioactive nuclides radiation distributed in the ground, air, other components of biosphere, foodstuff, and human being; changed radiation background - is considered to be natural radiation background changed as a result of human being's activity; the workers (personnel) - are natural entities, employed on permanent or temporarily basis, to work with ionizing radiation source or those who stay, according to working conditions, in the area of their influence; nuclear safety - is a package of measures providing safe handling of nuclear material.

Article 3. The radiation safety legislation The radiation safety legislation comprises the present Law as well as other legislative acts.

Article 4. Underlying principles of securing of radiation safety Underlying principles of securing of radiation safety are as follows: the principle of rate setting - means not exceeding of limited individual radiation quantity of citizens, safe for their health, from all inoizing radiation sources; the principle of substantiation - is prohibition of all categories of activity relating to the use of ionizing radiation sources if profit derived from their use does not exceed the risk of possible harm caused to human being and a society by an additional radiation source; the principle of minimization - is maintaining of law level of individual radiation dose within the limit, safe for persons' health, as well as number of persons being irradiated when using any ionizing radiation source.

Article 5. Rights and obligations of persons in the sphere of securing of radiation safety The persons have the right for: compensation for damage caused to their life, health and property by ionizing radiation sources irradiation in keeping with the legislation; complete and objective information on radiation status of environment, items of use and consumption, measures of securing of radiation safety, as well as on radiation doses received by them; participation in consideration of matters associated with securing of radiation safety. The persons are obliged to accomplish the following: to comply with requirements of the radiation safety legislation; to fulfill requirements of the local authorities and State agencies carrying out regulation in the sphere of radiation safety. Besides, the persons may have other rights and bear other obligations under the Law.

Article 6. Social security of certain categories of persons The persons, residing in the territories where radiation doses may exceed the established limits, have the right for social security. The procedure for social security is established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. II. REGULATION IN THE SPHERE OF SECURING OF RADIATION SAFETY

Article 7. State regulation in the sphere of securing of radiation safety State regulation in the sphere of securing of radiation safety is executed by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the authorized State agencies. State regulation in the sphere of securing of radiation safety includes: state supervision and control over observation of radiation safety requirements; licensing of activity in the sphere of ionizing radiation sources handling; certification for radiation pollution of agricultural produce, food, feedstuff, drinking and manufacturing water, construction materials and articles made of them; determination of radiation pollution when coordinating matters associated with allotment of land for all types of construction.

Article 8. Control in the sphere of securing of radiation safety The state control in the sphere of securing of radiation safety is executed by the Agency for supervision of safe execution of work carried out in industry and mining supervision, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for protection of nature and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Production supervision in the sphere of securing of radiation safety is carried out by the users of ionizing radiation sources. Public inspection in the sphere of securing of radiation safety is carried out by nongovernmental nonprofit organizations and the citizens. The procedure for carrying out the control in the sphere of securing of radiation safety is established by the legislation.

Article 9. State examination of objects of use of ionizing radiation sources Objects of use of ionizing radiation sources are liable to state, ecological, radiation-and-hygiene and technical examination in keeping with the procedure established by the legislation.

Article 10. Licensing of activity in the sphere of ionizing radiation sources handling Research and development work in the sphere of ionizing radiation sources handling, designing, construction of ionizing radiation sources and manufacture of technological equipment for their operation and radiation protection facilities, as well as work on mining, production, processing, use, storage, service, transportation, neutralization and disposal (burial) of ionizing radiation sources are carried out on the ground of licenses issued in accordance with the established procedure.

Article 11. Rate setting in the sphere of securing of radiation safety Rate setting in the sphere of securing of radiation safety in executed by the establishment of sanitary standards, rules and hygienic standards of radiation safety, state standards, construction norms and rules, job safety regulations, as well as instructive, methodical and other documents on radiation safety approved and registered in keeping with the procedure defined by the legislation. III. RADIATION SAFETY INSURING REQUIREMENTS

Article 12. Securing of radiation safety Radiation safety is ensured by: the elaboration and implementation of the program for securing of radiation safety; the operation of uniform state system of control and records of individual radiation doses received by the persons when using ionizing radiation sources; the establishment of types and amount of compensation for high risk to citizens' health because of radiation influence; the compensation for damages caused to citizens' health and property as a result of radiation accident; the determination of types of activity relating to the use of ionizing radiation sources; the state regulation of export and import of ionizing radiation sources; the implementation of medical and prevention measures; informing of citizens of radiation situation and measures to ensure radiation safety; instructing of citizens to take measures of radiation safety; rendering assistance to citizens who have been undergone irradiation as a result of radiation accidents; the introduction of special habitation regimes in radioactive contamination zones; the liquidation of consequences of radiation accidents in the relevant territory; the organization and implementation of operative measures if a threat of radiation accident arises. Radiation safety may be ensured by other measures in accordance with the legislation.

Article 13. Assessment of radiation safety situation Local authorities, State agencies, carrying out regulation in the sphere of radiation safety, as well as the users of ionizing radiation sources assess radiation safety situation when planning, implementing measures to ensure radiation safety and analyzing effectiveness of specified measures. Assessment of radiation safety situation includes the following principal indices: characteristic of environment radioactive contamination; analysis of securing of radiation safety measures and fulfillment of norms, rules and radiation safety hygienic standards; radiation accidents probability and their scale; degree of readiness to liquidate radiation accidents and their consequences; analysis of radiation doses received, being received and expected to be received by the workers (personnel) and the population from all ionizing radiation sources; number of persons who have been undergone irradiation above the set up limits of radiation doses.

Article 14. Radiation-hygienic certificate The results of estimation of radiation safety situation are to be entered to the radiation-hygienic certificate annually. The procedure for keeping radiation-hygienic certificates is defined by the legislation.

Article 15. Securing of radiation safety under natural radioactive nuclides influence Selection of land, designing and construction of buildings and structures shall be implemented taking into consideration the prevention of natural radioactive nuclides penetration into air of premises. Production of construction materials, putting into operation of buildings and structures and operation of buildings and structures are to be executed taking into consideration the level of natural radioactive nuclides in the air of premises. Construction materials and articles not complying with radiation safety standards are prohibited to be used. Irradiation of population and the workers (personnel) because of natural radioactive nuclides influence in dwelling houses and production premises must not exceed the established norms.

Article 16. Securing of radiation safety when producing food and consuming drinking water Provision, foodstuff, drinking water, contacting materials and articles when producing, storing, transporting and selling, must meet radiation safety requirements.

Article 17. Obligations of the users of ionizing radiation sources to ensure radiation safety The user of ionizing radiation source is obliged to do the following: to comply with requirements specified in the radiation safety legislation; to elaborate and implement measures to ensure radiation safety; to execute work on substantiation and assessment of radiation safety of produce, materials, substances and production processes considered to be ionizing radiation sources; to execute production control over radiation situation at workplaces, in premises, at production areas, buffer area, radiation-control area, as well as over emission, discharge and burial (disposal) areas of ionizing radiation sources; to implement control and records of individual radiation doses of the workers (personnel); to carry out training, retraining and certification of the personnel, production managers and specialists of production control services; to inform, or a regular basis, the workers (personnel) of ionizing radiation levels at their workplaces and of an amount of individual radiation doses received by them; to organize medical examination of workers (personnel); to ensure burial (disposal) of ionizing radiation sources that did not find an application; to perform requirements of State agencies carrying out regulation in the sphere of securing of radiation safety.

Article 18. Control and records of individual radiation doses Control and records of individual radiation doses received by the citizens when using ionizing radiation sources, conduction of medical X-ray and radiological procedures, as well as those due to natural radiation background and changed radiation background are implemented within the framework of uniform system of control and records of individual radiation doses created in keeping with the procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 19. Securing of radiation safety of citizens when performing medical X-ray and radiological procedures Doses of irradiation of citizens, when performing medical X-ray and radiological procedures, must comply with established norms of radiation safety. When perfoming medical X-ray and radiological procedures, it is necessary to use protection facilities of citizens. At the person's request, an information on expected or received radiation dose and on possible consequences, when conducting medical X-ray and radiological procedure, is provided. The person has the right to refuse medical X-ray and radiological procedures, with the exception of prophylactic examination performed with a view to reveal deceases dangerous in regards to epidemiology.

Article 20. Buffer area and radiation-control area With a view to protect citizens and environment, the buffer area and radiation-control area are created in the territory of location of objects using ionizing radiation sources. Extent and boundaries of buffer areas are defined by the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for architecture and construction and are coordinated with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Temporary and permanent residence of people, as well as location of production and other objects not connected with the use of ionizing radiation sources is banned in the buffer area. The use of existing objects and structures, located in the buffer area, for economic purposes, if their profile is changed, is permitted according to petition of the users of ionizing radiation sources with the permission of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Radiation-control area, its extent and boundaries are defined by the users of ionizing radiation sources and coordinated with local authorities and State agencies implementing regulation in the sphere of securing of radiation safety. Restrictions to carry out economic activity may be introduced in radiation-contro area in keeping with the legislation. Measures to prevent radiation accident are applied in the buffer area and radiation-control area. Losses caused by the creation of radiation-control area and buffer area are compensated by the users of ionizing radiation sources under the Law.

Article 21. Storage or burial (disposal) of radioactive waste When storing or burying (disposing) radioactive waste, their isolation from the environment must be ensured. The procedure for organization of collection and burial (disposal) of radioactive waste is established by the legislation.

Article 22. Securing of safety of radioactive and nuclear materials Securing of safety of radioactive and nuclear materials, however they are handled, is binding. The safety of radioactive and nuclear materials is secured by the users of ionizing radiation sources. Securing of safety of radioactive and nuclear materials provides uniform system of planning and implementation of a package of technical and organizational measures aimed at: prevention of illegal entry to the territory of placement (storage) of radioactive and nuclear materials, as well as their theft or spoiling; revelation and return of lost or stolen radioactive and nuclear materials. Supervision of securing of safety of radioactive and nuclear materials is executed by the Agency for supervision of safe execution of work carried out in industry and mining supervision. The procedure for seciring of safety of radioactive and nuclear materials is established by the legislation. IV. SECURING OF RADIATION SAFETY WHEN RADIOACTIVE ACCIDENT HAPPENED

Article 23. Protection of citizens and environment from radiation accidents Organizations where radiation accidents may happen, are obliged to have: a list of radiation accident situations that may happen and a forecast of their consequences and radiation situation; criteria to take decisions if radiation accident happened; the plan of measures to protect citizens and environment from radiation accident and its consequences, coordinated with local authorities and State agencies carrying out regulation in the sphere of securing of radiation safety; means of notification and ensuring liquidation of radiation accident consequences; medicines designed to prevent radioactive affections and means of rendering medical assistance to victims of radiation accident; emergency-rescue crews created from the workers (personnel).

Article 24. Obligations of the users of ionizing radiation sources in case where radiation accident happened In case where radiation accident happened, the user of ionizing radiation sources is obliged to do the following: to ensure the implementation of measures to protect the workers (personnel) and the population from accidents and their consequences; to inform the State agencies carrying out regulation in the sphere of radiation safety, as well as local authorities and self-government agencies; to take measures on rendering medical assistance to victims; to bring source of radioactive contamination under control and to prevent spreading of radioactive substances in environment; to analyze and prepare the forecast of radiation accident development and radiation situation change if radiation accident happened; to take measures to normalize radiation situation after liquidation of radiation accident.

Article 25. Proposed heightened irradiation of citizens attracted to liquidate radiation accident consequences Proposed heightened irradiation of citizens attracted to liquidate radiation accident consequences, emergency and rescue work and deactivation may be conditioned only by the necessity to rescue people and prevent their more high irradiation. Irradiation of citizens attracted to liquidate radiation accident consequences must not exceed the established hygienic norms. Proposed heightened irradiation of citizens attracted to liquidate radiation accidents consequences is permitted only one time for a period of their life with their voluntary consent and preliminary informing of greatest possible radiation doses and risk for health. Types and amount of compensation for heightened risk and compensation for damages caused by radiation influence to people's health, attracted to perform specified work, is stipulated in the legislation. V. CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

Article 26. International agreements If a certain international agreement of the Republic of Uzbekistan lays down rules other than those stipulated in the radiation safety legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the former is applicable.

Article 27. Settlement of disputes Any disputes which may arise in the sphere of securing of radiation safety, are settled in keeping with the procedure established by the legislation.

Article 28. Responsibility borne for the infringement of the radiation safety legislation Persons identified as having violated the radiation safety legislation are made answerable to the Law according to the established procedure. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I. Karimov 31 Aug 2000