Changes in 2023

Launch of new eServices on NEA ePortal on 20 Feb 2023

Through “Customer Profile and Worker Management”, radiation protection licensees, radiation workers and radiation service customers will be able to:

a. create, view and update customer profiles (e.g. update contact person details, licence annual fee payment mode, dosimeter delivery address);

b. view basic information on active licences and service subscriptions under each customer profile; and

c. (for organisations) view information on radiation workers employed under their organisation (e.g. validity of R1 or N3 licence, dose monitoring status) after adding the radiation workers to their customer profile.

Also, radiation protection licensees, radiation workers, and radiation service customers will be able to subscribe to radiation dose monitoring services at greater convenience through the “Dose Monitoring Services” on NEA ePortal.

Additionally, N2 licensees will no longer need to submit renewal applications for payment of N2 licence annual fee. Licensees without existing GIRO arrangements will have the option to make online payment via NEA ePortal or through AXS.   

Implementation of revised RP(IR)R on 20 Feb 2023

NEA had conducted a public consultation on proposed amendments to the RP(IR)R from 1 to 14 Dec 2022. At the close of the public consultation, NEA received 55 responses from members of the public and IR licensees. Overall, respondents were supportive of the proposed amendments by NEA and provided their suggestions and feedback on the proposal. A summary of the key feedback received, and NEA’s responses can be found on REACH Portal.

The revised RP(IR)R will come into effect on 20 Feb 2023. A summary of the revised RP(IR)R can be found at: Summary of Ionising Radiation Regulations 2023. Key information on the implementation is summarised below:

a. Existing L1, L2, L3, L4 and L6A licences (active as at 30 Jan 2023) will be automatically converted to the corresponding IR1, IR2 and IR3 licences under the new regulations.

b. Individuals holding L5 licence, L6 licence and/or R1 certificate (active as at 30 Jan 2023) will be automatically registered as radiation workers and issued a new R1 certificate under the new regulations. Existing L5 and L6 licensees (as at 30 Jan 2023) will also be automatically added as a Qualified Person (QP) under the related IR1 or IR2 licences.

c. The new licences and certificates will be sent via email within 2 - 4 weeks of the implementation of the revised RP(IR)R.

d. The anniversary of the new licences and registrations will be based on old regime licence expiry date or average of the consolidated old regime licences (where applicable). The annual fee payment due date, which replaces the licence expiry date, will be one day before the anniversary date.

e. The expiry date for existing personal dose monitoring service subscription for L5 licence, L6 licence and R1 certificate holders will be aligned to the annual fee payment due date of the new R1 registration. No action is required for now until the service expires.

f. NEA will cancel existing licences and registrations (active as at 30 Jan 2023) after the new licences and registrations are issued. The existing licences and registrations will remain in force until they are cancelled. L7 and L8 licences, which are issued on a per consignment basis, will remain valid until the date of expiry.

g. Existing licensees will not be expected to immediately comply with new performance-oriented requirements in the revised RP(IR)R for occupational exposure, medical exposure, public exposure, radioactive waste management and emergency preparedness and response. NEA will reach out to existing licensees progressively and work closely with them to review existing safety measures and align with the new regulatory requirements. 

Important information for licensees and personal dose monitoring services customers

Key dates and activities to facilitate the launch of the new eServices and implementation of the new RP(IR)R are stated in the table below:

¹ For N2, IR1, IR2, IR3 licence, and R1 certificate holders, a 6-month grace period for late payment of annual fee will be provided as a transitional arrangement for licences with annual payment. For N1 and N3 licence holders with expiry between 30 Jan 2023 and 19 Feb 2023, a 3-month grace period will be given for late renewal.

² For any amendments unrelated to licence or registration conversion (e.g. change of storage location, addition of new item, etc.), an amendment application should be submitted via GoBusiness Portal.

With the decoupling of personal dose monitoring services with effect from 20 Feb 2023, subscribers will have to renew their subscription and pay for the service at the rate of $15.75 per month (inclusive of GST) before their subscription expires. For information on how to renew your subscription, please refer to the FAQs on eServices. Please note that transitional arrangements have been made for subscriptions expiring between 30 Jan 2023 and 30 Apr 2023. The table below summarises the transitional arrangements:

More details can be found in the FAQs pages on eServices or revised RP(IR)R on our website.