Is a UV water disinfection system considered "radioactive material" regarding most countries' shipping laws?

What? UV lamps are no more radioactive that ordinary light bulbs. The difference being they operate at a different wavelength. They do not emit radioactive particles. They do not emit any EM radiation during shipment. They do not contain radionuclides.

Shipping laws apply to products shipped in commerce (between businesses) and incidents normal to transport. ie.. if the UV lamps are designed to be plugged in and emit electromagnetic radiation during transport that may be an issue. So let's look at the definition of "radioactive materials" given by the US DOT..

US 49CFR subchapter C §173.403 defines radioactive material by the following...

"any material containing radionuclides where both the activity concentration and the total activity in the consignment exceed the values specified in the table in §173.436 or values derived according to the instructions in §173.433"

§173.436 lists exemption limits for small amounts of particular radioisotopes

§173.433 gives instructions for determining hazards of certain radionuclides as a function of concentrations

Your UV bulbs, unless they are very peculiar, do not contain any radionuclides and therefore are not "radioactive materials" by the definitions set forth in the US 49CFR and are therefore not class 7 radioactive materials in the United States. They may be another class depending on what they're made of (like toxic) but I doubt it.

Now. I certainly could review the UN orange book (the regulations that Mexico goes by for transportation of dangerous goods) I literally have one in my library here. But I think I'd be wasting my time since the bulbs are not radioactive via 49CFR and violations of local shipping laws are always refered to the country of origin of the shipment for resolution.

good question though given the potential penalties for shipping packages out of compliance is $25k/package per day of transport.

A standard UV filtration system uses about as much energy as a 60 watt light bulb and is certainly not radioactive in the least. You're fine

UV lamps have a tiny amount of mercury in them, but I have never heard of them being classified as "radioactive".

You may be confusing the fact that they use the term germicidal radiation to describe how they work. (The low pressure mercury vapor lamp emits radiation that is predominately at 2537 Å. This is in the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness.) That refers to the wavelength of the waves, not radioactivity as considered from nuclear materials.

And furthermore: Bacteria withstand considerably more ultraviolet irradiation in water than in dry air. E.coli, for example, (common in the water of unprotected catchment systems), requires more UV exposure for their destruction in water than in dry air. In either case, the germicidal radiation must strike a microorganism to destroy it. This requires that the water be clear enough to allow transmission of an adequate quantity of UV energy.

After all, the sun radiates light, and we don't think of sunlight as being radioactive.

i might exchange the regulation that criminals have extra rights than the victims..or so it kind of feels..i've got faith you gave up your rights for a competent life once you probably did the crime..I hate that prisoners have a competent life and all the basics of life in a reformatory which contains television,aircon,warmth,stable healthful nutrition and so on. on an identical time as the poor people who did no longer something incorrect have a tough time only having straightforward products...they get little help and artwork perplexing for what they have.. that's one in all my puppy peeves for specific!!! This regulation might desire to get replaced..The criminals that are got here across responsible might desire to be giving no longer something extra suitable than a cellular and nutrition and water and sufficient warmth to maintain them alive,,,no longer something extra!!! No ask your self , it expenses lots to maintain criminals in penal complex..and we the taxpayers might desire to pay for his or her residing. i've got faith there could be alot much less crime...I mean the killers and baby abusers and crimes like that.