About radiation source licences

Who needs to apply for a source licence

The Radiation Safety Act 2016 (Section 13) requires that a person who possesses, manages and controls, or manufactures radiation sources to obtain a source licence. ‘Person’ may refer to a natural person (an individual human being) or a legal person (an organisation, corporation, or other legally recognised entity.)

The radiation source licence will specify the:

• licence holder
• authorised radiation sources and activities
• location or facility name where the sources may be held and the radiation activities that may occur.

When to apply for each type: new, renewal or variation

New source licence

If you are establishing a new practice or activity involving radiation sources, you must obtain a source licence before beginning operations. 

A source licence will authorise management and control of sources from a single location, and of activities in a single compliance monitoring category.

If you intend to manage and control radiation sources from additional locations, or for activities in more than one compliance monitoring category, you must apply for a separate source licence for these radiation sources and activities.

Possessing radiation sources and/or performing radiation activities without a valid licence is an  offence under the Radiation Safety Act 2016.

Renewal of a source licence

A source licence must be renewed periodically prior to the expiry date of the licence. Each licence issued can be issued for a maximum of 3 years.

However, if there have been changes to the authorised activities and radiation sources since the licence was issued, a variation to the licence is required. In such cases, the licence holder must apply for variation to the existing licence scope. See below for more information.

Variation of a source licence

If there have been changes to the licensed business, person, or radiation activities since the original licence was granted, a variation to the licence may be required.

Any proposed variations must be assessed and approved before they are implemented. Once approved, the variation will retain the original licence’s expiry date.

• Administrative changes may include the following cases.

  • Change of the licence holder’s name (assuming the NZBN remains the same).
  • Change to the licence holder when clinic or facility has been purchased (if there are no changes to previously authorised operational aspects relating to radiation safety).
  • Change of trading name.
  • Change of address or relocation of a site or facility (for low-risk activities and sources).

  There is no fee associated with making administrative changes.

• Changes to the authorised scope of current licence may include the following cases.

  • The inclusion of an additional type of radiation source.
  • The inclusion of an additional radiation practice or activity.
  • The removal or a type of radiation source, radiation practice or activity.
  • The acquisition of a higher risk category radiation source (for example, inclusion of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) on a licence that previously included only plain radiography using standard x-ray).
  • The addition or removal or relocation of a previously licensed business or facility (for high-risk activities or sources).

  If the change to a licence scope affects which compliance monitoring category the sources and activities sit under, there may be an additional fee, or a partial refund, associated with the variation.

  For high-risk compliance monitoring categories, a pre-authorisation inspection may be required before a proposed variation can be approved. This requirement applies particularly to practices with elevated safety risks, though it is not limited to them. Find more information on NZ Legislation.

Fees and how to apply

Each licence category has a specific annual fee, which is higher in the first year of a new licence.

Find out how to apply for a source licence and which fees apply. 

When you need to register a source

When applying for a source licence, certain radiation sources must also be registered with the Office of Radiation Safety.

Find out about how to register a radiation source.

If you are importing or exporting radioactive materials

To import or export radioactive material in New Zealand, you must also obtain a consent under section 24 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016. 

Fin out how to apply for a consent.