Law No. 198-Z “On radiation safety”.

This Law establishes legal framework for the functioning of the system ensuring radiation safety, handling of sources of ionizing radiation and aims to prevent and minimize harmful effects of ionizing radiation on human health and the environment. Radiation accident shall be intended loss of control of source of ionizing radiation, which resulted in staff exposure above and beyond the established radiation dose limits, public exposure, radioactive contamination of the environment, and requires protective measures. Radiation safety shall be intended condition of safety of population, staff and environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Radiation situation shall be intended state of environment characterized by indicators of gamma radiation dose rate, radioactive contamination levels and other indicators derived from radiation monitoring. Objects of relations in the field of ensuring radiation safety are sources of ionizing radiation, radiation objects, surrounding environment, human habitat, human body, products. The main principles of ensuring radiation safety shall be as follows: (a) rate setting principle – non excess of planned radiation exposure (except for medical exposure), maximum permissible radiation dose for staff and irradiation of the population from all sources of ionizing radiation; (b) substantiation principle - prohibition of all handling activities related to sources of ionizing radiation, the benefit of which does not exceed the risk of possible harm caused by radiation, exceeding natural radiation level; (c) optimization principle - maintaining radiation at an achievable low level. This Law establishes the competence and responsibility of governmental bodies and authorized institutions in the field of ensuring radiation safety. Sources of ionizing radiation shall be subject to mandatory state registration. It also regulates import of sources of ionizing radiation to the Republic of Belarus. Management of radioactive waste includes collection, sorting (separation) by class of radiation hazard, processing, storage or disposal, as well as transportation of radioactive waste. This Law consists of VIII Chapters divided into 53 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II regards state management in the field of ensuring radiation safety. Chapter III regards rate setting in the field of ensuring radiation safety. Chapter IV regards ensuring radiation safety. Chapter V regards application of radiation safety in the process of radioactive waste management. Chapter VI regards ensuring radiation safety in case of nuclear disaster. Chapter VII regards state supervision in the field of radiation safety. Chapter VIII lays down final provisions.