Medical use of ionising radiation: Commission Recommendation on diagnostic reference levels

The Commission has adopted a Recommendation on the establishment, review and use of diagnostic reference levels (Euratom/2026/403) for radiodiagnostic examinations and interventional radiology procedures. Building on the provisions of the Basic Safety Standards Directive (2013/59/Euratom), the text sets out specific methods and good practices on how to set up, maintain and re-evaluate a national system of diagnostic reference levels in the most common diagnostic and therapy-guiding techniques within medical applications of ionising radiation. As such, the recommendation will help to enhance and maintain safe and high-quality radiological procedures for patients in the EU.

Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) allow for comparison of radiation doses of common diagnostic and therapy planning procedures by collecting radiation data from hospitals, conducting statistical analyses and setting values which allow for assessment and detection of departments where such procedures generate overly high radiation doses. These departments can then take steps to decrease their doses, which also brings down the risk of secondary cancers or injuries for patients.

This work is part of the SAMIRA Action Plan (Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications), the EU's first initiative to support a safe, high quality and reliable use of radiological and nuclear technology in healthcare. The action plan defines EU actions in 3 priority areas

• securing the supply of medical radioisotopes
• improving radiation safety and quality in medicine
• facilitating innovation and the technological development of medical ionising radiation applications

SAMIRA is supported by a Steering Group on Quality and Safety of medical applications of ionising radiation (SGQS), an expert group that brings together representatives of EU health and radiation protection authorities. In 2024, the SGQS agreed on a Position Paper which served as a basis for the Commission to put forward the recommendation now adopted.

Related Links

• Recommendation (Euratom/2026/403)
• SAMIRA Action Plan
• Medical uses of radiation