WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2274/97 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. Transportation and storage of nuclear warheads and weapons material
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, WADDINGTON
Subjects: application of EU law, ionising radiation, nuclear weapon, public health, storage, transport of dangerous goods

C 76/90

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 3. 98

In view of this, the Commission satisfied that such transportation and storage is safe, that it does not pose a threat
to public health, and that it fully meets the requirements of European legislation and policy as developed from the
EC and EURATOM Treaties?

(98/C 76/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2274/97

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Transportation and storage of nuclear warheads and weapons material

In view of growing public concern at the transportation of nuclear warheads and other weapons-related material,
is the Commission convinced that such movements do not pose a serious threat to public health, and that they
meet the requirements of European law in this area?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2273/97 and E-2274/97
given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 1997)

Movements  of  radioactive  waste  are  covered  by  Council  Directive  94/55/EC  of  21  November  1994  on  the
approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road (1) and
Council Directive 96/49/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport
of  dangerous  goods  by  rail (2).  These  fully  incorporate  the  1995  International  atomic  energy  agency  (IAEA)
regulations  for  the  safe  transport  of  radioactive  materials.  Member  States  had  to  bring  into  force  the  laws,
regulations  and  administrative  provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  these  directives  by  1  January  1997.
According to this transport legislation, Member States may exempt the transport of dangerous goods by transport
equipment belonging to or under the responsibility of the armed forces.

All practices which involve the risk from ionizing radiation, including the storage and transport of radioactive
substances have to comply with the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the
general public. These were first laid down by Council directive in February 1959 and revised on a number of
occasions  since  that  date (3).  The  provisions  of  the  existing  directives  require  Member  States  to  establish  a
system of inspections in order to check compliance with these standards.

This  Community  legislation  established  under  Chapter  III  (cid:145)health  and  safety(cid:146)  of  the  Euratom  Treaty  covers
radioactive materials belonging to or under the responsibility of the armed forces, in particular whenever related
activities have an impact on population exposure.

On an international level, in September 1997 there will be a formal negotiation of a new joint convention on the
safety of spent fuel management and the safety of radioactive waste management. It is expected that this will be
open for signature at the IAEA general conference and enter into force as soon as enough states have ratified it.
This should help to ensure an adequate level of safety for radioactive waste management practices throughout the
world. It is expected that the joint convention will cover the management of spent fuel or radioactive waste from
military or defence programmes when such materials are transferred permanently to civilian programmes and
managed exclusively within them.

(1)  OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(2)  OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.
(3)  The most recent revision of the basic safety standards is contained in Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13.5.1996. The provisions of this Directive

must be in force by 13.5.2000 › OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.