If you plan to use a radiation source in New Zealand, you may need to hold a use licence for authorisation under the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act).
Find more information about how to apply for a use licence.
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When a use licence is required
Under Section 13(b) of the Act, you must hold a use licence unless your situation is exempted by the Act or the Radiation Safety Regulations 2016, or if the type of use is covered by a source licence.
Under section 21(3) of the Act, using a radiation source includes:
- the use of radiation emitting from a radiation source
- causing the radiation source to emit radiation
- administering, injecting, or implanting radioactive material into a person, animal, plant or thing.
Who needs a use licence
Every individual who is intending to use a radiation source will need to obtain a use licence unless the intended use is for a situation where a use licence is not required.
You need a use licence if you are:
- a medical or dental professional using radiation in diagnosis or treatment that isn’t covered by Schedule 3 exemptions
- a veterinarian using computed tomography, fluoroscopy, or radioactive material for veterinary practices
- a technician or researcher working with irradiating apparatus or radioactive material
- an installation and servicing technician who will be perform installation or servicing activities on radiation sources within New Zealand, even if you hold a radiation use licence issued in another country
- anyone else using radiation sources in New Zealand.
Only individuals (natural persons) can hold a use licence. A use licence cannot be issued to an organisation or a group of people, as per section 21(2) of the Act).
The Director may grant a use licence under the conditions in Section 22(1) of the Act. The training, qualification and experience requirements to obtain a use licence vary depending on the situation.
For more details, please contact the Office of Radiation Safety: [email protected].
Exempt radiation sources
Find more information on which radiation sources are exempt from the use licence requirements of the Act.
