Disclaimer
The information presented below has been derived per bnature’s understanding of the information provided on the Supreme Council for Environment website regarding the Management of Radioactive Materials service, as well as the experiences of members of bnature’s community in applying for a Management of Radioactive Materials license. Please refer to the SCE website for more details.
How to apply for a radiation license in bahrain
In Bahrain, in order to operate any instrument that emits radiation, a radiation license must be obtained from the environmental regulatory body which is the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE).
Procedures are available to issue three types of licenses that deal with the management of radioactive materials, they are:
- APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A RADIATION LICENSE (An END-USER license for radioactive material and/or radiation emitting device including x-ray machines)
- Application Process for the Import and use of a radiation source and/or radiation emitting devices (this includes x-ray tubes)
- Re-export a radiation source, and/or a radiation emitting device (e.g. x-ray generator) and/or transfer the ownership of the radiation emitting device (e.g. x-ray machines)
Application process for a radiation license (radioactive material and/or radiation emitting device including x-ray machines
This license applies to organizations and entities that operate with a CR (Commercial Registration).
For new organizations and entities looking to handle and import radioactive materials, or existing organizations and entities that already have a CR and would like to add a radiation related activity, a request must first be sent to the Commercial Registration Directorate at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism who will then refer the request to the Supreme Council for Environment.
For organizations and entities that already operate with a CR are looking apply for a new license, amend an existing license or renew a license, a letter must be submitted to the Head of Environmental Licensing Section at the SCE, requesting for a license to handle radiation sources and/or to use/operate x-ray machines and the purpose of the use of the x-ray machine.
The END-USER license application, must be submitted via email (licensingradiation@SCE.GOV.BH) and have the following requirements attached:
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- Official letter requesting license to practice general radiology.
- Fill the Practice form.
- Copy of the applicant’s Commercial Registration (CR).
- Copy of the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) license (for medical uses) – where applicable
- Radiologists CVs and qualification certificates.
- Medical checkup (blood count test) of the Lab Technicians and Operators,
- Provision of TLDs to the Lab Technicians and Operators,
- Facility design (sketch) and x-ray room shielding design (building material, height, and lead shielding thickness).
- Following the application submission, the applicant will receive a confirmation (not immediate) email with an application reference number from the SCE.
- Once the application has successfully passed through the review process, the applicant will receive an electronic invoice from the SCE which must be paid as per Decision No. (4) of 2021 | Concerning the Fee Categories for all Licensing & Services Fees provided by the Supreme Council for Environment which entails that all environmental licensing applications including those related to radiation licensing will now be subjected to a fee.
- Following confirmation of the payment, the SCE shall issue the required license.
Application Process for the Import and use of a radiation source and/or radiation emitting devices (this includes x-ray tubes)
- An official letter must be submitted by the applicant to the Head of Environmental Licensing Section at the SCE, requesting to import and use a radiation source or radiation emitting device.
- The application must include specifications or a catalog of x-ray machine(s) or source.
- Fill the form.
The license application must be submitted via email (licensingradiation@SCE.GOV.BH).
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- Following the application submission, the applicant will receive a confirmation (not immediate) email with an application reference number from the SCE.
- Once the application has successfully passed through the review process, the applicant will received an electronic invoice from the SCE which must be paid as per Decision No. (4) of 2021 | Concerning the Fee Categories for all Licensing & Services Fees provided by the Supreme Council for Environment which entails that all environmental licensing applications including those related to radiation licensing will now be subjected to a fee.
- Following confirmation of the payment, the SCE shall issue the required license.
- Once the license has been granted, the applicant may proceed towards purchasing and importing the desired item (e.g. x-ray tube).
- Once the item (e.g. x-ray tube) arrives in Bahrain, the courier company (e.g. FEDEX) will notify the applicant of the arrival of the shipment.
- To release the shipment, the courier company will request the following documents: (1) SCE permit for the item (2) a copy of the item’s catalog (3) National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) permit.
- Courier companies such as FEDEX are authorized to apply to NHRA for approval on behalf of the applicant provided that all supporting documents are submitted to the courier company. Upon the courier company’s application, a NHRA Reference Number is provided to both the courier company and the applicant. Kindly note that NHRA’s processing time is usually seven working days.
- Once NHRA’s approval is obtained, the courier company will release the shipment to the applicant.
Application to re-export a radiation source, and/or a radiation emitting device (e.g. x-ray generator) and/or transfer the ownership of the radiation emitting device (e.g. x-ray machines)
- An official letter must be submitted by the applicant to the Head of Environmental Licensing Section at the SCE, requesting to export a radiation emitting device, a radiation source and/or transfer the ownership of a radiation mitting device to another party.
- The application must include specifications or a catalog of the radiation emitting device (.e.g x-ray machine/s) or source.
- Fill the form (Application form #6 or #9 as appropriate.
- The license application must be submitted via email (licensingradiation@SCE.GOV.BH).
- Following the application submission, the applicant will receive a confirmation (not immediate) email with an application reference number from the SCE.
- Once the application has successfully passed through the review process, the applicant will received an electronic invoice from the SCE which must be paid per Decision No. (4) of 2021 | Concerning the Fee Categories for all Licensing & Services Fees provided by the Supreme Council for Environment which entails that all environmental licensing applications including those related to radiation licensing will now be subjected to a fee.
- Following confirmation of the payment, the SCE shall issue the required license.
- Once the license has been granted, the applicant may proceed towards exporting or transferring the desired item (e.g. x-ray tube).
Contact information
Submissions of applications and enquiries, can be made via
Environmental Licensing Section
For technical inquiries, please contact: radiation@sce.gov.bh