About the exports
Exports of uranium, thorium, depleted uranium, monazite and minerals that contain uranium and thorium are subject to control under Regulation 9 of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958. Schedule 7 contains a complete list of goods subject to export control under Regulation 9.
The need to control these exports reflects Australia’s stringent nuclear safeguards requirements, including the need to ensure that Australia’s non-proliferation requirements are met with regard to the exports of ores, concentrates and residues which contain practically recoverable concentrations of nuclear material.
The department’s Controlled Ores Permission Fact Sheet (see Related documents) specifies what information must be included in applications to export depleted uranium and other controlled ores.
Recent legislative changes
The Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 were amended in September 2007 to clarify the nuclear source materials that are subject to export control. Schedule 7 now clearly specifies that tantalum concentrates and tantalum glass require export permission.
The amendments also provide an exemption for any ore or concentrate containing less than 0.05 per cent by weight of the identified types of uranium and thorium source materials unless the ore or concentrate is listed by the Minister for Resources and Energy to be excluded from this exemption. Australian Customs Notice No. 2007/55 gives effect to these amendments.
Related documents
More information
For more information about Uranium and controlled ores export permissions email the Uranium Industry Section at uranium@ret.gov.au.