Activities involving the use of controlled irradiating apparatus and radioactive materials require the organisation or individual to obtain the relevant licence or registration. An overview and summary of the relevant licences for the two groups of controlled items are shown below. For more information regarding the various licences and registration, and the licence application process, please refer to Guidelines for Licence Application and Annual Payment and Additional Licensing Information.
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Organisations Manufacturing, Possessing for Sale or Dealing in Irradiating Apparatus or Radioactive Materials
Organisations manufacturing, possessing for sale or dealing in irradiating apparatus or radioactive materials, including for distributing, renting or loaning, are required to obtain a valid IR1/N1 licence prior to conducting the import/export of irradiating apparatus or radioactive materials. Such importers/exporters who do not have a valid IR1/N1 licence at the point of import/export may have their permit application rejected.
These importers/exporters who do not have a valid IR1/N1 licence for the controlled item to be imported/exported should submit a licence application to license the controlled item at least 4 weeks in advance of submitting the permit application on Singapore Customs’ TradeNet portal. For more information, please refer to Application for Licence to Import or Export Irradiating Apparatus and Radioactive Materials.
For organisations intending to import/export microwave ovens and radiation-emitting medical apparatus, please take note of the following:
a) Microwave ovens
Microwave ovens for local sale will need to comply with Regulation 25(5) of the Radiation Protection (Non-Ionising Radiation) Regulations. In addition, the Certification Body test report with the radiofrequency and X-ray radiation leakage values must be submitted before it will be approved for local sale. For more details, please contact NEA prior to submission of the licence application.
b) Radiation-emitting medical apparatus
Applicants intending to import, possess for sale or deal in radiation-emitting medical apparatus should check with the Medical Device Branch (MDB) under the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to ensure that the apparatus is registered and listed on the Singapore Medical Device Register (SMDR), or authorised by HSA (e.g. Special Access Routes (SAR)), before submitting a licence application. For more information, please refer to the MDB/HSA website.
Organisations Keeping, Possessing for Use or Using Irradiating Apparatus or Radioactive Materials
Organisations that are intending to import irradiating apparatus or radioactive materials for possession(to use)/export irradiating apparatus or radioactive materials that are currently in their possession(to use), are required to obtain a valid IR2/N2 licence, or submit an IR2/N2 licence application, prior to conducting the import/export. Please inform NEA prior to the submission of your permit application through TradeNet via NEA's online feedback form or myENV app. For more information, please refer to Application for Licence to Import or Export Irradiating Apparatus and Radioactive Materials.
Individuals Using Irradiating Apparatus or Radioactive Materials
Certain controlled irradiating apparatus and radioactive materials require individuals using these items to be licensed or registered. The licensing/registration requirement differs depending on the group of controlled items you will be using. An overview of the licence/registration to use controlled items is below.
a) N3 licence: Licence to use lasers
This licence is applicable to individuals using lasers. Medical and dentistry professionals who are registered with the Singapore Medical Council or the Singapore Dental Council and using medical lasers in healthcare institutions are exempted from the licensing requirement, if they have obtained the consent of both of the following persons:
- The individual in charge of the healthcare institution
- The licensee of the N2 licence granted in respect of that medical laser
b) R1 registration: Registration as radiation worker
Individuals engaging in radiation work, as defined under the Radiation Protection (Ionising Radiation) Regulations, must be registered as radiation workers
Transport of Radioactive Materials
Importers/exporters of radioactive materials and apparatuses containing radioactive material must ensure that the transport of these items locally is conducted by an organisation who is authorised to do so under an IR3 licence.