A Introduction

B List of prescribed Substances under Atomic energy Act, 1962

C Extracts from Atomic Energy Act, 1962

Atomic energy concerns have led to complete control on all atomic energy equipment by the Department of Atomic Energy based in Mumbai. The office is located near Gateway of India but the main operational offices are at Trombay, a suburb of Mumbai. The office address is:

The control is exercise over every aspect of the items including imports. In other words, a licence or clearance is required from the Department with each consignment. The control of the Department extends to the following:

a. Equipment specially designed for production or utilisation of prescribed substances", atomic energy, radioactive substances or radiation.

b. "prescribed substances" notified by the Government used for the production or use of atomic energy, or related research and includes uranium, plutonium, thorium, beryllium, deuterium and their derivatives, compounds or any material containing the above.

c. "radio active substances" or "radio active material" which emit radiation in excess of the prescribed limits.

Import of 'Prescribed substances' as mentioned below are subject to the provisions of Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and rules made thereunder.

B List of prescribed Substances under Atomic energy Act, 1962 subject to clearance procedure:

1. Uranium, its compounds and mineral/ores/concentrates containing uranium, including tailings containing uranium.

2. Thorium, its compounds (including thorium Nitrate/Oxide) and mineral concentrates containing thorium including monazite

3. Zirconium, its alloys compounds and compound ones minerals/concentrates including zircon, zircon flour and zircon opacifier.

4. Beryllium, its compound and minerals/concentrates including beryl but excluding Beryllium windows used for medical x-ray machines and gamma ray machines.

a. "atomic energy" means energy released from atomic nuclei as a result of any process, including the fission and fusion processes.

b. "fissile material" means uranium 233, uranium 235, plutonium or any material containing these substances or any other material that may be declared as such by notification by the Central Government;

c. "minerals" include all substances obtained or obtainable from the soil (including alluvium or rocks) by underground or surface working;

e. "plant" includes machinery, equipment or appliance whether affixed to land or not;

f. "prescribed equipment" means any property which the Central Government may, by notification, prescribe, being a property which in its opinion is specially designed or adapted or which is used or intended to be used for the production or utilisation of any prescribed substance, or for the production or utilisation of atomic energy, radioactive substances, or radiation, but does not include mining, milling, laboratory and other equipment not so specially designed or adapted and not incorporated in equipment used or intended to be used for any of the purposes aforesaid;

g. "prescribed substance means any substance including any mineral which the Central Government may, by notification, prescribe, being a substance which in its opinion is or may be used for the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith and includes uranium, plutonium, thorium, beryllium, deuterium or any of their respective derivatives or compounds or any other materials containing any of the aforesaid substances.

a. radiation" means gamma rays, X-rays, and rays consisting of alpha particles, beta particles, neutrons, protons and other nuclear and sub-atomic particles; but not sound or radio waves, or visible, infrared or ultraviolet light;

b. "radioactive substance" or "radioactive material" means any substance or material which spontaneously emits radiation in excess of the levels prescribed by notification by the Central Government.

2. Any reference in this Act to the working of minerals shall be construed as including a reference to the mining, getting, carrying away, transporting, sorting, extracting or otherwise treating of minerals.

3. Any reference in this Act to the production or use of atomic energy shall be construed as including a reference to the carrying out of any process, preparatory or ancillary to such production or use.

1. The Central Government may, subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, by order prohibit except under a licence granted by it-

(i)the working of any mine or minerals specified in the order, being a mine or minerals from which in the opinion of the Central Government any of the prescribed substances can be obtained;

b. of any minerals or other substances specified in the rules, from which in the opinion of the Central Government any of the prescribed substances can be obtained; or

c. of any plant designed or adopted or manufactured for the production, development and use of atomic energy or for research into matters connected therewith; or

2. Nothing in this sections hall affect the authority of the Central government to refuse a licence for the purpose of this section or to include in a licence such conditions as the Central Government thinks fit or to revoke a licence and the Central Government may take any action as aforesaid.

The Central Government may prohibit the manufacture, possession, use, transfer by sale or otherwise, export and import and in an emergency, transport and disposal, of any radioactive substances without its written consent.