Abstract
Purpose The implementation of EU Directive 2013/59 EURATOM (EU-BSS) of 2014 led to a reorganization
of radiation protection legislation in Germany in the form of a new radiation protection
law Strahlenschutzgesetz (StrlSchG) of 2017 and a new radiation protection ordinance
Strahlenschutzverordnung (StrlSchV) of 2018. For application of ionizing radiation
in medicine these changes affect radiology, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. A comparison
between the old and the new legal system analyses changes that are relevant for diagnostic
and interventional radiology. For the important new regulation of unintended exposures,
a comparison is made with the implementation of Art. 63 EU-BSS in 7 European countries.
Material and methods The provisions of the Röntgenverordnung (RöV) and the old Strahlenschutzverordnung
(StrlSchV alt), which were valid until 2018, are compared with the new legislation
of StrlSchG and StrlSchV for changes in radiation protection for patients, the population
and occupational radiation protection of staff members. The occupational dose limit
of the eye lens was reduced. The reduction by a factor of 7.5 results in new requirements
for radiation protection equipment. New requirements in teleradiology are compared
with the previous regulation, as well as the necessary involvement of medical physics
experts (MPE) in high dose procedures, such as CT and fluoroscopic interventions.
The regulation for unintended exposures of the German StrlSchV are analyzed in terms
of their reporting criteria.
Results The principles of medical radiation protection in Germany have not changed as a result
of the new radiation protection legislation from 2019 onwards. However, there are
a number of changes and new requirements that must be considered and implemented.
Important points are e. g. new regulations on teleradiology, early detection of diseases
in asymptomatic individuals and reporting of unintended exposure of patients. As all
new regulations are no longer found in only one single regulation, both knowledge
of the StrlSchG and the StrlSchV are necessary.
Key points:
-
The EU Directive 2013/59 EURATOM (EU-BSS) was transposed into the new German radiation
protection law 2018
-
The basic regulations of the RöV and old StrlSchV remain unchanged
-
Newly added regulations must be known and implemented in practice
-
Many regulations of the EU-BSS are so vaguely formulated that they allow a wide scope
for national implementation
Citation Format
-
Loose R, Wucherer M, Walz M et al. The new radiation protection framework since 2019
– Implementation in Germany and comparison of some aspects in seven European countries.
Fortschr Röntgenstr 2020; 192: 1036 – 1045
Key words
radiation safety - medicolegal Issues - EU Directive 2013/59 EURATOM - radiation protection
law - radiation protection ordinance
