WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3178/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Guarding of unused radioactive materials
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU control, application of EU law, competence of the Member States, health legislation, health risk, ionising radiation, public health, radioactive materials, storage, storage of waste













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91997E3178

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3178/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Guarding of unused radioactive materials  


Official Journal C 158 , 25/05/1998 P. 0048 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3178/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (13 October 1997)Subject: Guarding of unused radioactive materialsThe theft of hazardous radioactive material in Greece from a long-since disused plastics factory is causing serious concern about the insecure storage and safekeeping of such materials.1. What measures should have been taken to ensure secure guarding and storage of hazardous radioactive materials,2. what bodies are responsible for guarding those materials, and3. are the distribution and use of radioactive materials by private individuals subject to checks on their use and safekeeping?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (26 november 1997)1. Health protection with respect to any practice which involves a risk arising from ionizing radiation is the subject of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation ((OJ L 159, 29. 6.1996. )). This directive is the latest revision of the directives laying down basic safety standards for radiation protection, established for the first time in 1959 in compliance with Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty.In particular, the directive (Articles 3 to 5) requires Member States to establish a system of reporting prior authorization for the above-mentioned practices. It also requires (Article 46) Member States to establish a system of inspection to enforce the provisions introduced in compliance with the directive.2. Apparently, the question refers to the specific problem of disused sealed radioactive sources, formerly used in a factory. At the present time, the issue of disused sealed sources is not the subject of specific Community legislation. The general principle is that 'each Member State is responsible for ensuring that the radioactive waste produced on its territory is properly managed' as stated in the Council Resolution of 19 December 1994 ((OJ C 379, 31.12.1994. )). The Commission is aware that there might be a need to improve management practices concerning disused sealed sources in the Community, and intends to prepare a communication on this subject.3. If the radioactive materials represent ores, source materials or special fissile materials as defined in Article 197 of the Euratom Treaty, the materials are subject to Euratom safeguards. This means that, in line with Articles 77 to 85 Euratom Treaty, the Commission has to satisfy itself that, in the territories of Member States, these materials are not diverted from their intended uses as declared by the users.