Recently, the General Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment ("MEE") and the General Office of the General Administration of Customs ("GAC") have jointly issued the Circular on Regulating the Record-filing for Exemption of Radioisotope and Radioactive Ray Devices (the "Circular").
The Circular sets out clear requirements in different aspects, including: 1. how to file a record; 2. the scope and validity of exemption; 3. supervision of the conditional exemption of devices containing radioactive sources; and 4. import and export administration for exempted radioisotope. Among others, the Circular notes that, pursuant to relevant provisions, records may be filed differently under different circumstances, for exemption of radioisotope and radioactive ray devices in the field of nuclear technology utilization. For example, as for radioisotope and ray-devices that meet the designated exemptible level, their domestic manufacturers or the domestic general agents of these imported products, and entities using these products, may fill in corresponding forms and submit them to the provincial-level department of ecology and environment at their locality for the record-filing purpose. Moreover, the Circular reads that, with regard to radioisotope and radioactive ray devices that meet the designated exemptible level, and devices containing radioactive sources that are subject to conditional exemption, activities to sell and use these products may not be subject to radiation safety oversight, after their manufacturers or general agents of these imported products have completed the record-filing for exemption.