NRC issues notice on glow-in-the-dark watches

New York--The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission just circulated a reminder to the industry that licenses are required to possess and distribute watches that contain tritium, a nuclear material that’s used on watch faces and hands to make them glow in the dark. 

In its notice, the NRC reminded both manufacturers and distributors that licensing is required by initial possessors, and by distributors, of any consumer products containing nuclear material. 

The Jewelers Vigilance Committee, which sent out a press release about the NRC’s reminder on Monday, said that this recent notice is similar to the one the NRC circulated in 2008 about irradiated gemstones. 

According to the JVC, there are two separate licenses that are required: one for possession and use, and one for distribution. 

Entities that manufacture, process or produce watches containing tritium are required to have a “Possession and Use” license, which allows the transfer of watches to any other entity with a Possession and Use license. 

The JVC said most states can issue these licenses, but companies located in states that can’t issue them can apply directly with the NRC for a Possession and Use License. More information about the NRC’s state agreement program is located on NRC.gov.

The second relevant license is the Exempt Distribution license, which is issued by the NRC and is required to distribute the watches to companies or persons that are unlicensed and considered exempt from NRC regulatory authority. 

Most entities that have to get a Possession and Use license also will need one of these, the JVC said. Further details on the requirements for obtaining an Exempt Distribution license are available from the JVC. 

Distributors of watches containing tritium may elect to partner with third-party holders of the appropriate license, as opposed to getting it themselves, but should take steps to ensure the entity is in complete compliance with NRC regulations.

The JVC also noted that foreign vendors with an established office in the United States are eligible to apply for an NRC license. 

More information about federal regulations concerning the possession, use and distribution of watches containing tritium is available here on NRC.gov. More information on licensing and the tritium issue as a whole is available by contacting Suzan Flamm at the JVC at 212-997-2002.