Annual Regulatory Plan - Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, 2003
Past regulatory change
Reapplication of the Safeguards Act to depleted uranium in non-nuclear use.
Description of issue
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987, regulates possession of nuclear material. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Amendment Regulations 2002 (No.2) involved the reapplication of controls on depleted uranium in non-nuclear use.
Depleted uranium in non-nuclear use was previously exempted from the application of the Safeguards Act in 1990 for efficiency reasons as maintaining controls on this material was considered to be of only minor safeguards benefit. The international safeguards system has since been strengthened and this change is now required for Australia to meet its treaty obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency under the strengthened regime.
The main impact on business is that holders of such material (e.g. as fabricated components or equipment or as a laboratory reagent) will: need to obtain a permit to possess nuclear material (no charge); keep accounts for their holdings; control access to the material; and be subject to inspection in accordance with the Safeguards Act.
Date of effect
31st October 2002.
Contact details
Nick Doulgeris, Head, Nuclear Accountancy and Control,
Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office
Tel: (02) 6261 1920 Fax: (02) 6261 1908
Email:asno@dfat.gov.au