For Type B(M) package shipments, when is a shipment approval certificate required?

• A. Only for fissile material
• B. The activity thresholds 3,000 A1/A2 or 1,000 TBq whichever least
• C. Shipper's Declaration suffices
• D. Always required

Answer: (B)

For Type B(M) shipments, a shipment approval certificate is required whenever the radioactivity content exceeds the smaller of two limits: 3,000 A1/A2 or 1,000 TBq. This rule ensures that more hazardous consignments receive formal regulatory review and approval before transport. If the activity is at or below that lower threshold, a Shipper's Declaration suffices, provided all other packaging and transport requirements are met. The “whichever least” value creates a safety threshold based on the more stringent limit between per-nuclide activity and total package activity.