ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

This 2008 edition of the Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material replaces the 2001 edition. It adopts the International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material 2005 Edition (No. TS-R-1). It is intended to establish uniform requirements for the transport of radioactive material in Australia.

This 2008 edition was published in January 2008 and is intended to be adopted into legislation by all states and territories. The 2001 Edition of the Transport Code remains current in jurisdictions pending the adoption of this latest edition. Please refer to the relevant competent authority (PDF 19k) for advice regarding the status of adoption in a particular jurisdiction.

In August 2008, ARPANSA published the Safety Guide for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (RPS 2.1). The Safety Guide was prepared to assist persons in meeting their responsibilities under the Transport Code.

Download the 2008 Edition of the Code

RPS No. 2 - Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (PDF 3,530k)

Printed Copies

Printed copies the 2008 Edition of the Transport Code (RPS 2) are available for purchase for $25.30 per copy (price includes GST and postage).

Use the Radiation Protection Series Order Form (PDF 55kb) to place an order for all publications in the Radiation Protection Series.

Declaration Form

Use this version of the  Road/Rail/Marine Consignor's Declaration for Dangerous Goods - Class 7 Radioactive Material (PDF 69k) to print and complete by hand.

Use this version of the  "Type and print" version of Consignor's Declaration for Dangerous Goods (PDF 101k) to complete electronically then print.

Competent Authorities

List of Australian Competent Authorities for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (PDF 21k)
(Updated 16 May 2008)

Public Consultation Documents

• Consultation Draft - Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2008 Edition) - (PDF 95k) - (August 2007)
• Summary of Submissions and Responses - (PDF 53k) - November 2007

As part of the review process, the working group was required to undertake a preliminary assessment of the impact of the regulatory proposal on business and individuals or the economy, and to determine what level of regulatory analysis was required. The preliminary assessment - including a summary of the differences between the 2001 and 2008 editions of the Transport Code follow:

• Best Practice Regulation - Preliminary Assessment - (PDF 655k) - August 2007
• Summary of differences between 2001 and 2008 versions of the Transport Code - (PDF 124k) - August 2007

Supporting documents

In 2007, ARPANSA contracted Calytrix Consulting Pty Ltd to prepare a report assessing the doses to workers involved in the transportation of heavy mineral concentrates. Given that transport of these materials is exempted at activity concentration levels 10 times the exemption levels specified in the Transport Code, ARPANSA wished to confirm the validity of the use of this 10 times factor through assessment of doses. The Calytrix Report (PDF 498k) was provided to ARPANSA in September 2008 and is now publicly released via this web site. It concludes that doses to workers are low and that use of the 10 times factor is still appropriate.

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