NRC releases proposed changes to Part 35

On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published the Reducing Barriers to Medical Use Licensing proposed rule. The proposed rule outlines changes to Part 35, Medical Use of Byproduct Material, to modernize and streamline NRC regulations for medical use of radioactive materials, making licensing more efficient and flexible, reducing unnecessary burdens, and supporting the adoption of new medical technologies, all while maintaining safety and regulatory oversight. This action responds to Executive Order 14300, which directs the NRC to comprehensively review and revise its regulations to be less prescriptive, more flexible, and better aligned with current medical practices and technologies.