Council Directive 2003/122/Euratom on the control of high-activity sealed radioactive sources and orphan sources.

The aim of this Directive is to prevent exposure of workers and the public to ionizing radiation arising from inadequate control of high-activity sealed radioactive sources and orphan sources and to harmonize controls in place in the Member States. The Directive defines specific requirements ensuring that each such source is kept under control. These provisions apply to high-activity sources, which are defined under article 2 as sealed sources containing a radionuclide whose activity at the time of manufacture or, if this is not known, of the first placing on the market is equal to or exceeds the relevant activity level specified in Annex I. Any practice involving a source (including taking possession of a source) shall be subject to prior authorization.