Introduction: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) 

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) stands for the Regulation and Control of Radiation exposure. The AERB was formed through the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, and the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 on the date of November 15th, 1983. The registration process has been made mandatory looking the tremendous increase in ionizing radiation technology, the regulation of the facilities ensuring Safety and Security of Radiation facilities. The AERB has initiated the e-governance system through automatic regulatory process of the use of Ionizing Radiation in India.

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Functions of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) 

AERB mainly focuses on the following things:

• Regulation of Nuclear Radiation and Industrial Safety and related safety policies.
• Implementation and Maintenance of the regulatory framework, standards, Safety Guidelines, etc.
• The Business and operations providing or indulging in the services of Nuclear and Radiation facilities have to follow recommendations from the AERB for Design, Layout, Commissioning, and Decommissioning operation Construction and Design facilities.
• Compliance measures by the operators of all regulations provided by the AERB during the consent and assessment process.
• Permits the operation of the Nuclear and Radiation facilities after documentation is done.
• Ensure the safety measures of the bulk transportation of Nuclear and radioactive resources.
• Provides the training programs and radiation facilities, qualifications for operation, and license policies during its operation.
• Ensures new technology-equipped safety measures for such industries.
• Ensures the use of practices
• Measures the social benefits
• Measures the use of doses to the general population

Purpose of Regional Regulatory Centers

• Makes inspection of the Radiology centers, hospitals, and Diagnostic centers.
• Carries out surprise regional area inspection of the Radiation facilities Centers and Radiology department.
• Inspect the legality and validity, consenting mechanism of the Radiation Facility Centers.

Uses Of Radioactive Substances

• For medical diagnostic imaging
• For Radiation facilities like (X-rays, and CT scans), Transportation of Radioactive Materials, Nuclear Power Plants, and Nuclear Medicines;
• In radiology Diagnostic;
• Use of X-rays both for the benefits and risk of radiation;
• For proper care of the shielding, installation, and maintenance of equipment;

What are the Regulations for the Diagnosis of Radiology Facilities

• For the procurement and operation of the X-ray equipment authorization from the supplier is mandatory;
• Follow the prerequisites for the operation of the X-rays in Construction, Control console, layout requirements, etc;
• Installation of X rays machines through authorized technologists as per the AERB rules;
• Assigning the Radio Safety Officer (RSO) for the maintenance of the safety codes, guidelines, and standards formed by the AERB;
• Ensuring the availability of Expert staff, proper Shielding, and skilled technicians;

Documentation by AERB

• Issues documents as per the AERB regulations;
• Provides safety standards and codes and regulations;
• Provides code for the safety requirements and objectives of the Projects;
• Provides manuals describing the instructions, application methods, and safety measures.

Licensing is one of the mandatory requirements for the siting, installation, design, Construction, and layout plan. Without the issuance of the license, there cannot the installation of radioactive products and material use of such products.

The Regulatory Mechanism Of The Aerb

The AERB ensures the following compliance with the operation of the Project;

• Documentation;
• Assures the hours of the project, layout inspection, and method of Construction operation
• A safety inspection, review, and assessment of the Project ensuring all-time safety of the project follow up of Safety, license terms, and rules through the Experts of the AERB and other fields;
• Through the assessment, the process board grants a license and enforces an action plan and other safety-related mechanisms;
• Providing Consent and License
• Visit and Inspection
• Enforcement of Regulatory mechanism
• Ensures and inspects the fulfillment of Radiological Safety Requirements.

Use and Applicability of e-Lora

eLora is an Information and Communication Technology platform for the establishment of a direct link between the AERB and the Stakeholders for implementation of the regulatory services. The eLora facilitates has been developed through the statute given by GOI which is Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004, and managed and implementation of regulations, codes, standards, and manuals by AERB.

E-Lora stands for the E-licensing of the Medical radiation facilities in India that includes Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Diagnostic, radiology,

• E-Lora is a government initiative by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), a web-based application for the technology-based mandatory regulatory and registration mechanism for the Projects that provide Radiation facilities in India.
• Through this process, AERB ensures the transparency and efficiency of the regulatory provisions, through paperless licensing and governance of the Radiation Projects. 

Licensing Procedure at Aerb for Medical Facilities 

The following procedure shall be followed for the licensing or registration of Medical Diagnostic X-ray equipment:

• Firstly, Obtain Procurement Permission

The AERB shall grant procurement permission for X-ray equipment.

• Subsequently apply for the Licensing/Registration for the Operation of the facilities

For obtaining the License/Registration from the AERB for the operation of the X-ray equipment submit the installation report to AERB through the e-lora portal.

The Aerb Licensing/Registration Procedure At E-Lora 

The Projects working under Medical radiation facilities in India having possession of Medical Diagnostic X-ray equipment must have to obtain a license for running a business from the AERB. the Procedure for registration is given below:

• Open the e-Lora website.
• Registration of the Employer of the Project;
• The e-Lora provides login credentials through messages by e-mail and registered phone number;
• Complete the registration application form through the submission of details of the Project at the e-Lora for the operation of the Project using the required credentials such as;

1. Project name;
2. Type of project;
3. Comprehensive X-ray equipment details with associated information;
4. Registration details of the government department;
5. Certificate number of the project;
6. Address line of the Project;
7. Contact details of the applicant;
8. Facility type of the project;
9. Follow the link to redirect to the website: Register Institute (aerb.gov.in)

• The amendment to the existing project shall be made through the filling of the application form at the AERB.
• Mainly, the e-Lora accepts the registration of the Radiotherapy, Medical cyclotron, Nuclear Medicine, Research, and transportation of Radiation.

The license shall be issued after 120 days from the date of submission of the form at E-lora website.

Documents required for the AERB Registration 

At the time of registration of the Project, the mandatory documents that are required to be submitted for the AERB approval. Additionally all the documents should be submitted in the strict format as is required by the AERB to avoid rejection of the application, required documents are:

• Agency and equipment for the survey report of the radiation
• Quality Assurance of the X-ray equipment
• Identity proof of the applicant
• Address proof of the unit
• Details of the equipment
• Complete layout of the room shielding 
• Valid NOC certificate;
• Approval of Radio Safety Officer (RSO) 
• Authorization of the equipment (proof)

Safety Measures For The Operation Of The Radiography And Medical Diagnostic 

• Operation of the unit standing beside the barrier of 1.5 mm of Pb
• TLD Use at chest level;
• Use of Collimators;
• Maintain a 2mm distance at the portable system;
• Use of Pb apron;
• Cover the abdomen of Women in case of their pregnancy using a Pb apron and avoid overcrowding of Patients at the X-rays Centers;
• X-rays should operate under closed doors;

Other Measures that Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) should follow:

• Follow AERB-authorized equipment;
• Demonstrate the use of X-rays AERB registration certificate;
• Do the quality assurance test at the interval of 2 years.
• Ensure the availability of required x-rays equipment at the department;
• Check the availability and consistency of Pb-apron;
• Availability of TLD badges to the Operators and Workers;
• Ensure the Routine Maintenance of the equipment;
• Check the availability of the Radiation symbols and Warning signs.

Fee required for Licensing from AERB

The Fee varies according to the usage department and radiation practices in a particular project. The license shall be renewed after two years of terms at the e-Lora website

Restriction on the Practices of Radioactive substances

According to the AERB guidelines radioactive substances cannot be used in beverages, foodstuffs, Ornaments, etc., and where the radioactive substances are being used mention the use sign of the radioactive substances, 

The Term Consent shall mean and include the terms such as “License”, “Approval”. “Certification”, “Registration”, or “Authorization”.