Study on the current status of radioactive sources in the EU, on the origin and consequences of loss of control over radioactive sources and on successful strategies concerning the detection and recovery of orphan sources

The general objective of this particular study was to evaluate the risk of the use of high-risk radioactive sources by criminals and terrorists and/or their loss of control with potential damage for population and environment. The study focused on the current status of the High-Activity Sealed Sources (HASS) Directive (2003/122/Euratom) implementation in the 27 Member States (MS). It aimed on the one hand at identifying the difficulties encountered by MS as well as the best practices and on the other hand at proposing solutions to improve the implementation of the HASS Directive. The approach focussed on the situation and trends prevailing in each MS concerning legal aspects, best practices and existing gaps in managing sources in use, disused sources and in recovering orphan sources with regard to the requirements of the HASS Directive