UK Act of Parliament
1965
United Kingdom
Nuclear Installations Act 1965
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
20 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides
Penalty landscape
3 of 20 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 5 carry different penalties and 12 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 9
- Licence Holder 3
- Operator 2
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 5 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Licence Holders also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 1999 317 duties
- The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 2004 123 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 76 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 68 duties
- The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 1991 65 duties
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2
Attachment of conditions to licences
5 years imprisonment- Breach of nuclear site licence conditions Any Person
Revocation and surrender of licences
2 years imprisonment- Breach of directions following licence cancellation or surrender Any Person
Maintenance of list of licensed sites and relevant disposal sites
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must maintain and publish a list of licensed nuclear sites Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3
Duty of licensee of licensed site.
Unlimited fine- Prevent injury, property damage, or environmental harm from nuclear matter Licence Holder
Excluded disposal sites: acceptance of disqualifying matter
- Notify and remove disqualifying waste from excluded disposal sites Operator
Duty of Authority.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Nuclear Authority must meet nuclear site safety duties for its premises Statutory regulator
Duty of Crown in respect of certain sites.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government departments must meet nuclear safety and liability standards Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty of certain foreign operators.
- Foreign nuclear operators must prevent radiation damage and environmental harm Operator
Duty of persons causing nuclear matter to be carried.
Unlimited fine- Prevent injury and damage when transporting nuclear matter Any Person
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Occurrences not on a licensed site
Duties in respect of relevant disposal sites
Excluded disposal sites
Part 4
Damage to property and measures of reinstatement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Courts must adjust property damage claims for environmental restoration benefit Tribunal / Court
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5
Notice to the Secretary of State of proceedings
- Notify the Secretary of State if you start legal proceedings Any Person
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Time for bringing claims under ss. 7 to 11.
Satisfaction of claims by virtue of ss. 7 to 10.
Section 16: supplementary
Section 16: CSC-related definitions
Section 16: phasing of increases in liability
Jurisdiction of courts in the United Kingdom
Jurisdiction, shared liability and foreign judgments.
Right of the Secretary of State to intervene
Right of a foreign government to intervene
Proceedings conducted by foreign governments
Powers of Secretary of State in relation to foreign claims
Part 6
Cover for licensee’s or operator’s liability.
2 years imprisonment- Failure to maintain financial insurance for nuclear liability Any Person
Furnishing of information relating to licensee’s or operator’s cover.
- Notify the regulator if nuclear insurance claims reach 60% of the limit Licence Holder
Statement on arrangements
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must report to Parliament on nuclear insurance arrangements Crown / Minister / Government department
Supplementary provisions with respect to cover for compensation in respect of carriage.
Fine up to £1,000- Failure to provide nuclear insurance/guarantor documents during transport Any Person
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
General cover for compensation by virtue of ss. 7 to 10.
Power to make arrangements with respect to licensee’s or operator’s cover
Part 7
Reporting of and inquiries into dangerous occurrences
2 years imprisonment- Fail to report a dangerous nuclear occurrence without delay Any Person
(1) The Secretary of State may appoint as inspectors for...
- Repay inspection and related costs when required by the Secretary of State Licence Holder
Recovery of expenses by Health and Safety Executive ONR
- Repay ONR expenses related to nuclear site licence applications and research Any Person
Offences—general.
- Company and officer liability for nuclear offences Director or Officer
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Registration in connection with certain occurrences and events.
Orders.
Amounts in euros
Special drawing rights
Interpretation.
Northern Ireland.
Channel Islands. Isle of Man, etc.
Repeals and savings.
Short title and commencement.
Schedules
Security Provisions Applicable by Order under S.2
Unlimited fine- Comply with security directions and restrict site access Any Person
Browse 20 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Inquiries under section 22(10) relating to occurrences in Northern Ireland
In this Schedule “the specified body corporate”, in relation to...
Security Provisions Applicable by Order under S.2
(1) Every site to which a permit applies shall, for...
Security Provisions Applicable by Order under S.2
(1) The specified body corporate shall comply with any directions...
(1) Except with the consent of the Minister the specified...
In the application of this Schedule to Northern Ireland—
Measures of reinstatement outside the United Kingdom
Measures of reinstatement
Persons able to take measures
Approval of measures of reinstatement
An inquiry in pursuance of a direction under section 22(10)...
The Minister may pay to the person appointed to hold...
The person appointed to hold the inquiry (hereafter in this...
The court shall, for the purposes of the inquiry, have...
A person attending as a witness before the court shall...
The court shall make a report to the Secretary of...
If any person— (a) without reasonable excuse (proof whereof shall...
Inquiries under section 22(10) relating to occurrences in Northern Ireland
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Browse 8 other sections
Cost of measures of reinstatement
Approval of measures of reinstatement
Representations
Appeals against decisions
Measures of reinstatement in the United Kingdom: claims under relevant foreign law
Measures of reinstatement outside the United Kingdom: claims under this Act
Loss of income derived from the environment
Cost of preventive measures
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Land quality management | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Geological disposal | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Implementation of the Shipments of Radioactive Substances (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on shipments of sealed sources from EU Member States to UK nuclear licensed sites | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 - Frequently asked questions | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Sizewell C | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Working with the Ministry of Defence | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Propulsion | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Our regulatory charges | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- Relicensing | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- New site licensing | Office for Nuclear Regulation (opens in a new tab) from ONR Detailed Guidance
- ... and 6 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Office for Nuclear Regulation
Independent regulator for nuclear safety and security. Issues nuclear site licences. Regulates nuclear installations, transport, and safeguards.
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.