Purchasing Restricted Substances

Approval on Radioactive Isotope Purchases

To purchase a radioactive isotope you must have a valid University permit.

All purchases of radioactive material must be approved by Radiation Protection Services prior to ordering or receipt of the material. This requirement applies to purchases, gifts, exchanges and donations.

Uses of radioactive material within institutions other than the University, such as teaching hospitals, are covered under separate Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) licences.

The approval process applies to all:

Open Radioisotopes
Sealed radioactive sources, radiation devices (Liquid Scintillation Counters, Gas Chromatographs, Static eliminators, Aerosol neutralizers, Calibration sources etc.)
Uranium Thorium and Plutonium compounds used in the research laboratories
Stable isotopes used as chemicals

The CNSC requires the University to maintain a record of all radioactive materials received under the Consolidated Licence. This information is reported to the CNSC annually or more frequently and also must be available for inspection by the CNSC on demand.

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Obtaining a Valid University Permit

To obtain a valid university permit, contact:

University of Toronto Radiation Protection Authority (UTRPA)
Radiation Protection Services, Environmental Health and Safety
215 Huron Street Room 709F
416-978-2028 / 416-978-6846

Completing an Electronic Purchase Requisition

Purchases of Radioactive materials must be initiated by creating an electronic Purchase Requisition in FIS.

For step-by-step instructions see the FAST Team’s Purchase Requisition Reference Guide Create PR for Isotope. All orders for radioactive materials require the following minimum information for approval by Radiation Protection Services:

Permit Number
Permit Holder Name
Radioisotope
Chemical Form
Activity per unit stock vial (mCi, uCi or MBq)
Number of stock vials ordered
Supplier Name
Requisition Date
Expected Day of Delivery
Delivery Location (Building and Room Number)
Requisitioner’s Name

Approvals are completed online usually between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Therefore the order must made by 10:30 am in order to be approved on the same business day.

Additional Information

UTRPA holds the sole responsibility for negotiating with the appropriate authorities and has within the University jurisdiction in all matters pertaining to the use, handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials and the installation, development and operating of equipment producing ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation.

Therefore material for use within the University must be purchased under the University license, and material for use within teaching hospitals must be purchased under the hospital license. Material being transferred between the University and hospitals must adhere to the CNSC requirements for transfer and transport between licensees. Permit holders must contact Radiation Protection Services to make appropriate arrangements for such transfers.