WRITTEN QUESTION P-1654/97 by Inger Schörling (V) to the Commission (5 May 1997)

Subject: Radioactive scrap metal in cans

British Nuclear Fuels, a British company, manufactures cans for foodstuffs from decontaminated radioactive metal from nuclear power stations. It is claimed that, after decontamination using acid, the limit value for the metal does not exceed 400 Bq. The metal is also exported to other countries without its origins being stated.

The use of recycled scrap metal from nuclear power stations to manufacture cans for the packaging of foodstuffs is highly inappropriate and objectionable, even if the company concerned is able to demonstrate that the metal contains only low levels of radiation.

What does the Commission propose to do about this situation? Is it planning to take any action?

Joint answer to Written Questions P-1650/97 and P-1654/97 given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (13 June 1997)

British Nuclear Fuels has developed a procedure for the decontamination of scrap metal, in particular arising from the decommissioned BNFL plant at Capenhurst, in such a way that it could be released for recycling.

There are no provisions in current Community radiation protection legislation specific to recycling. The basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation (Directive 80/836/EURATOM) ((OJ L 246, 17.9.1980. )) state that requirements for reporting and obtaining prior authorization need not be applied where radioactive concentrations are less than 100 000 Becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg). The latest revision of these standards (Directive 96/29/EURATOM) ((OJ L 159, 29.6.1996. )), which will come into force in May, 2000, replaced this exemption value with a nuclide-specific list of values which are in general much more restrictive (1000 Bq/kg for most alpha-emitting radionuclides and 10 000 Bq/kg for gamma-emitting radionuclides) and in addition permit Member States to authorize materials to be released from further requirements for disposal, recycling or reuse subject to complying with clearance levels established by Member States. A maximum level of 400 Bq/kg is laid down in the relevant British statutory instruments (Radioactive Substances (substances of low activity) Exemption Order (1986, No 1002, amended in 1992, No 647). The British Environment agency ensures compliance with this order.

The group of experts established under the terms of Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty has over many years examined the radiological consequences of radioactive scrap metal recycling. Already in 1988 a recommendation of the experts was published (Radiation Protection series No 43), in which for the recycling of steel a general clearance level of 1000 Bq/kg was proposed for beta/gamma emitting radionuclides. Further studies have been conducted over the past few years, now also including copper and aluminium, which have resulted in a nuclide-specific list of clearance levels, both for recycling and reuse. The most restrictive of such values is however, still 1000 Bq/kg. A report with the new recommendations is now being prepared for publication.

The release of scrap metal in compliance with the British exemption order is thus in line with the provisions of the basic safety standards. The release into the general pool of metal recycling ensures considerable further dilution. It may therefore be concluded that the possible occurrence of trace amounts of radioactivity in consumer goods as a result of recycling operations is of no concern from a health point of view, and in terms of individual doses indeed at least two orders of magnitude lower than natural radiation background.