COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM (89) 577 final 
Brussels, 23 November 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 3955/07 on the conditions 
governing imports of agricultural products 
originating in third countries 
following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power-station 
(presented by the Commission) 
:W \> 
JUSTIFICATION 
The purpose of this proposal is to extend by two years the system for checking 
compliance with the maximum permitted levels of radioactivity in agricultural 
products, fixed by Regulation (EEC) No 3955/87 following the accident at the 
Chernobyl nuclear power-station. 
This is justified by the fact that the reasons prevailing when this Regulation 
was adopted are still valid, and radioactive contamination in certain 
agricultural products from some third countries still in fact exceeds the 
maximum permitted levels of radioactivity laid down in the above-mentioned 
Regulation. 
The group of experts referred to in Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty, who were 
consulted on this matter at their meeting of 21 and 22 June 1989, agreed that 
Regulation 3955/07 should be extended. 
Pi-vpo^* • '••>' -> 'r-ni'ici1 SvgulAtinn (fJ.C) amending Regulation (fj.;;) Nc< 3}j;>/3'/ 
on the conditions ^uvwming imports of agricultural products or.yinating in 
thjrd countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power-station. 
The Council of the European Communities, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in 
particular Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3955/87^ ' fixed maximum permitted 
levels of radioactivity for agricultural products originating in third 
countries And intended for human consumption with which imports of the 
products concerned must comply and in connection with which checks are carried 
out by the Member States; and whereas this Regulation shall only apply until 
22 December 1989; 
Whereas the reasons prevailing when this Regulation was adopted are still 
valid, particularly on account of the fact that radioactive contamination in 
certain agricultural products originating in the third countries worst 
affected by the accident still exceeds the maximum permitted levels of 
radioactivity laid down in the above-mentioned Regulation; 
Whereas the Commission consulted the group of experts nf*rr*d to in Article 
31 of the Euratom Treaty, who favoured extending the period of validity of 
this Regulation; 
Whereas it is advisable to extend the Regulation currently in force for a 
period of two years in order to avoid trade disturbances which might still 
exist in the absence of common provisions. 
} CIJNcL 111. 30 12 19*7. p 14 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION 
Article 1 
Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 3955/07 is amended as 
follows. 
"The Regulation shall expire on 31 December 1991." 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 31 December 1989 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in 
all Member States. 
Done at 
For the Council 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM (89) 577 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN il 05 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-544-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-55134-8 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg