Obtain requisite licence on radioactive materials ? importers warned

Accra (Greater Accra), 29th June 99 -

The Radiation Protection Board (RPB) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has directed government agencies, companies and individuals importing x-ray machines and radioactive materials to obtain the requisite certificates from the board.

A press release issued by the Director of the RPB, Mr. Cyril Schandorf, in Accra on Friday said: "it is an offence under LI 1559 of 1993 to import, sell, manufacture or export an irradiating device such as x-ray machine, or radioactive materials without notifying the board or applying for a valid authorisation to operate these equipment and facilities".

It, therefore, directed all defaulters to comply with existing regulations governing the safe use of radiation and radiation sources in the country.

In a telephone interview with the GNA, Mr Schandorf regretted that though the RPB had been empowered to prosecute offenders, it lacks the necessary facilities to monitor the use of radioactive materials or carry out its functions effectively.

The RPB is the national competent authority for the licensing and inspecting practices for the purposes of radiation protection and safety of sources.

It is empowered to "enforce the provision of the LI 1559, promote knowledge about radiation protection and provide technical services to users of ionising radiation".

Under the provisions of the instrument, any person intending to import, sell, manufacture or export an irradiating device or a radioactive material shall notify the board in respect of such transactions in writing.

"Any person or organisation who owns, purchases, manufactures, acquires, sells or deals in, stores, uses, disposes of or exports any irradiating devices and radioactive materials shall register all such devices and radioactive materials in a prescribed form to be purchased from the board; apply for an appropriate licence in a prescribed form to be purchased from the board.

"No person shall cause ionisation radiation to be applied to any person for the purposes of diagnosis or treating disease unless that application is prescribed by a medical or dental practitioner registered under the Medical or Dental Decree, 1972 (NRCD. 91)

"No person shall administer ionising radiation to another person unless the person administering it is in possession of a valid licence; "Any violation of the provisions of the Radiation Protection Instrument is an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 500,000 cedis or imprisonment to a term not exceeding 12 months or both.

GRi?/