Radiation Protection Ordinance

The Ordinance on the further modernisation of radiation protection legislation was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette on 5 December 2018. The ordinance includes a number of separate ordinances and furthers the development of German legislation on radiation protection.

A new Ordinance on protection against the harmful effects of ionising radiation (Radiation Protection Ordinance) continues the reform of radiation protection legislation begun with the Act on protection against the harmful effects of ionising radiation (Radiation Protection Act) and improves upon the existing high level of protection. The ordinance includes specific standards for radiation protection in the workplace and medical settings and for the general protection of the population.

The Ordinance on emergency dose values establishes dose values that serve as criteria for the appropriateness of key early measures for the protection of the population (sheltering indoors, taking iodine tablets, evacuation).

Other elements of the existing law on protection against the harmful effects of ionising radiation are carried forward on the basis of the Atomic Energy Act via an Ordinance on requirements and procedures for radioactive waste management.

In addition, the Ordinance on protection against the harmful effects of non-ionising radiation lays out requirements for safe operation and mandatory professional knowledge for people using sources of non-ionising radiation on humans. This includes applications involving lasers, intense light, ultrasound and electromagnetic fields, which are used for example in cosmetic settings for permanent hair removal, wrinkle reduction, fat tissue reduction and tattoo removal.

The new Radiation Protection Ordinance, the Ordinance on emergency dose values and the Ordinance on radioactive waste management entered into force on 31 December 2018. Most parts of the Ordinance on protection against the harmful effects of non-ionising radiation will enter into force on 31 December 2020.