WRITTEN QUESTION E-2361/99

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Council Directive 96/29/Euratom

1. Regarding Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM(1), allowing the presence of low level radiation in certain products, is there any way in which consumers and/or businesses can ascertain which products are radiation-free and which are not? How does the Commission define which products are radiation-free?

2. Regarding Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM, allowing the presence of low level radiation in certain products, does the Commission anticipate any problems resulting from the varying standards

applied by each Member State to regulation of products emitting low level radiation, for example in relation to the import of wastes, component and finished products; discharges into air or cross border waterways; import of meat and livestock from overseas countries whose standards are less strict than the EU's.

(1) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2000)

Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996, establishes the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. The Directive must be implemented in national legislation by May 2000. It replaces the previous standards laid down in Council Directive 80/836/Euratom as amended by Directive 84/467/Euratom(1). Since the first standards were introduced in 1959, revisions have regularly been adopted to take account of evolving knowledge of the effects of ionising radiation and operational experience in radiation protection.

The new Directive addresses the issue of very low levels of radioactivity in consumer goods in a more coherent and restrictive way than previously. Exemption values below which sources need not be reported, are in general much lower than before. This guarantees that such goods can circulate freely. The possible exposure of the population as a result of trace amounts of radioactivity is negligible.

The basic safety standards ensure uniform introduction in Member States' legislation of exemption values. For the release of materials which can be re-used or recycled, the new Directive specifies the basis for setting clearance levels. These are set by Member States, taking Community guidance into account.

With regard to discharges of effluents in air or waterways, it is up to Member States to set the discharge limits, while respecting the dose limit to members of the public. However, under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, Member States submit to the Commission general data on each plan for the disposal of radioactive waste, and the Commission gives an opinion whether this is liable to affect the environment of other Member States.

With regard to foodstuffs, Council Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 of 22 March 1990 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station(2) establishes maximum permitted levels of radioactivity for the import from third countries. Compliance with these levels is ensured by Member States.

(1) OJ L 265, 5.10.1984.

(2) OJ L 82, 29.3.1990.