2000/473/Euratom: Commission recommendation of 8 June 2000 on the application of Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty concerning the monitoring of the levels of radioactivity in the environment for the purpose of assessing the exposure of the population as a whole (notified under document number C(2000) 1299)
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EAEC Treaty, environmental protection, nuclear safety, public health, radioactive effluent, radioactive pollution

27.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 191/37

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

of 8 June 2000

on the application of Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty concerning the monitoring of the levels of
radioactivity in the environment for the purpose of assessing the exposure of the population as a
whole

(notified under document number C(2000) 1299)

(2000/473/Euratom)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

contribution to the exposure of the population as a
whole from all practices to be regularly assessed.

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic
Energy Community, and in particular Article 124 and Article
36 thereof,

Having
consulted the
accordance with Article 31 of
Scientific and Technical Committee,

group of persons

appointed in
the Euratom Treaty by the

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty requires each Member
State to establish the facilities necessary to carry out
continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in
the air, water and soil and to ensure compliance with
the basic standards.

the Euratom Treaty

Article 36 of
the
appropriate authorities periodically to communicate
information on the checks referred to in Article 35 of
the Euratom Treaty to the Commission so that it is kept
informed of
the level of radioactivity to which the
public is exposed.

requires

Experience has been gained in the application of Article
36 of the Euratom Treaty. It is current practice for the
Commission to publish annual monitoring reports, on
the basis of quality controlled data received by the
Commission in application of Article 36 and Article 39
of
the Euratom Treaty. The Commission should
continue to publish such annual monitoring reports.

To ensure that the exposure of the population is kept
under review it is important that the Commission be
informed in a timely fashion and on a uniform basis of
the levels of radioactivity to which the population as a
whole is exposed in every Member State.

Article 14 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13
May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the
the health of workers and the general
protection of
arising from ionising
public
radiation (1)
requires

the dangers

(the Basic

Standards)

against

Safety

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

(6)

Article 45 of the Basic Safety Standards requires the
competent authorities to ensure that dose estimates for
the population as a whole are made as realistic as
possible.

(7) Without prejudice to the requirements of Article 35 of
the Euratom Treaty, it is sufficient for the review of the
exposure of the population as a whole to provide a
defined set of specific monitoring results.

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

To ensure compliance with the Basic Safety Standards it
in addition to air, water and soil,
is important that,
radioactivity be determined in biological
levels of
samples and in particular in foodstuffs, and that,
to
assess external exposure,
the ambient dose rates be
monitored.

The monitoring of levels of radioactivity in soil does not
the
allow a direct assessment of
population. The exposure related to soil contamination
is more directly assessed on the basis of ambient dose
rate and foodstuff contamination. Experience has shown
that the incorporation of soil data in the monitoring
serves little useful purpose.

the exposure of

It is necessary to keep under review which sampling
media and which radionuclide categories are relevant
indicators of actual and potential levels of radioactivity
in the environment and of exposure of the population.

There is consensus among Member States as to the
adequacy of current monitoring programmes. Such
monitoring may change in function of the evolution of
levels of radioactivity, measurement technology, and the
needs in view of emergency response. The Commission
will keep under review the adequacy of monitoring
programmes and will
involve the group of experts
established under Article 31 of the Euratom Treaty in
this process.

L 191/38

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Official Journal of the European Communities

27.7.2000

(12)

(13)

(14)

In the framework of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty,
to the
the data on discharges of
environment
and
from nuclear
reprocessing plants are already requested in Commission
Recommendation 1999/829/Euratom of 6 December
1999 on the application of Article 37 of the Euratom
Treaty (2).

radionuclides
power

plants

of

water

quality

Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on
the
human
consumption (3) provides for indicator parameters for
radioactivity. This Recommendation is without prejudice
to specific requirements under Annex II and Annex III
to that Directive.

intended

for

uniformity,

The
and
comparability,
timeliness of data reported in accordance with Article
36 of the Euratom Treaty should be ensured.

transparency

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:

1.

to

periodically

Euratom Treaty

In order to discharge their obligation under Article 36 of
the
communicate
information on the results of the monitoring of the levels
of radioactivity which they are bound to perform under
the terms of Article 35 of that Treaty, the Member States
should forward to the Commission, in accordance with the
time periods set out in point 5(c), the monitoring results
listed in Annex I. In case of an elevated concentration of a
radionuclide not specified in Annex I, appropriate date
should also be forwarded.

2. For the purposes of this Recommendation, the following

definitions apply:

(a)

the existence and
(cid:145)continuous monitoring(cid:146) means
implementation
continuing monitoring
programme. Depending on the medium monitored,
this is achieved as appropriate through:

of

a

(i) continuous sampling and assessment;

(ii) continuous sampling and periodic assessment;

(iii) periodic sampling and periodic assessment;

(iv) direct continuous measurement;

(b)

(cid:145)facilities(cid:146) means the monitoring programme, the direct
measurement and sampling and analysis equipment
and procedures
(including quality control and the
reporting and archiving of all relevant data), and the
continuous
to
necessary
laboratories
monitoring of the levels of radioactivity;

implement

(c)

(cid:145)monitoring network(cid:146) means the combination of each
medium of
the sampling and direct measurement
locations, as appropriate, used for the monitoring of
that specific medium;

(d)

(e)

(f)

(cid:145)dense monitoring network(cid:146) means a monitoring
network comprising sampling locations distributed
throughout
the Member State’s territory such as to
allow the Commission to compute regional averages
for radioactivity levels in the Community;

(cid:145)sparse monitoring network(cid:146) means a monitoring
network comprising for every region and for every
sampling medium at least one location representative
such locations high sensitivity
of
measurements
should be performed thus giving a
transparent representation of actual levels and trends of
radioactivity levels;

region. At

that

(cid:145)region(cid:146) means each representative area of a Member
State for the assessment of the radiological exposure of
the population as a whole under consideration of the
radiological impact by emissions and ambient dose and
the population distribution. The regions currently
defined in the Commission monitoring reports are
given in Annex II.

3. Member States

appropriate authorities referred to in Article 36 of
Euratom Treaty.

should notify to the Commission the
the

4. The following requirements should be met:

(a) Monitoring networks

(i) Each Member State should define representative

geographical regions for its own territory.

(ii) Each Member State should define for each type of
medium a sparse monitoring network and a dense
monitoring network.

(iii) The

sites

comprising

should be
representative of the regional situation taking into
account, where
population
appropriate,
distribution within the region.

a network

the

(b) Sampling media, types of measurements, and periodicity

(i) The sampling media and types of measurements
are listed in Annex I. Except where otherwise
specified in this Recommendation, measurements
should preferably be carried out
for the sparse
network on a monthly basis and for the dense
network quarterly.

(ii) For the sparse monitoring network, the detection
the measurement
levels to be

limits
sensitivities
instruments should allow the actual
quantified.

and

of

(2) OJ L 324, 16.12.1999, p. 23.
(3) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32.

(iii) For the dense monitoring network, the detection
limits of the measurement devices should be lower
than the reporting levels defined in Annex III.

27.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 191/39

(iv) The Member States should inform the Commission
the uncertainties

the detection limits and of

of
taken into account.

(v) The Member States should retain measurement
techniques that have proven reliable and ensure
quality control of the results.

of

(vi) Member State laboratories supplying data under
should
the
terms
intercomparison
periodically
exercises,
those organised by the
Commission, so as to ensure the intercomparability
of the data reported.

this Recommendation
in

in particular

participate

(c) Sampling strategies and measurements in relation to each of

the required sampling media

(i) A i r b o r n e p a r t i c u l a t e s

Measurements of gamma emitting radionuclides
should be performed on a routine basis to detect
and measure man-made radioisotopes as well as
Beryllium-7
naturally
should be reported as a qualitative check of the
activity (4)
methods
measurements are recorded these should also be
reported.

used. Where

radionuclides.

occurring

gross

beta

Sampling locations should be in the vicinity of
densely populated areas; adequate geographical
coverage should be ensured by the choice of at
least one
sampling location per geographical
region.

Sampling
be
operating continuously.

should

performed

by

systems

(ii) External ambient gamma dose rates

measured continuously. No reporting level
defined.

should be
is

(iii) S u r f a c e w a t e r

Samples should be taken from major inland waters
of
if relevant,
from coastal waters.

the Member States’

territory and,

In the case of river water, sampling should be
locations for
carried out, where practicable, at
which flow rate measurements are available.
In
such cases,
the average flow rate during the
sampling period should be reported to improve the
representativeness of the mean values calculated by
the Commission.

be
emitting
Gamma
activity (5)
monitored. Where
measurements are recorded these should also be
reported.

radionuclides
residual

should

beta

(4) The total measured beta activity in a sample; depending on the
measurement methodology tritium and in general very low energy
beta emitters are normally not
lived radon
daughters are excluded through a sufficient delay time (e.g. five
days) before counting.

included and short

(5) The total measured beta acitivity minus potassium-40 activity.

(iv) W a t e r

i n t e n d e d

f o r

h u m a n

c o n s u m p t i o n

Monitoring of
levels of radioactivity in drinking
water should be such as to ensure compliance with
the requirements of Directive 98/83/EC.

For the purposes of compliance with Article 36 of
the Euratom Treaty, values should be reported for
major ground or surface water supplies and for
water distribution networks such as to ensure a
representative coverage of the Member State.

The corresponding volumes of water distributed or
produced in a year should be reported to improve
the
values
representativeness
calculated by the Commission.

the mean

of

(v) M i l k

be

Milk samples should be taken from dairies. The
information on production
necessary statistical
rates
the
reported
should
representativeness of the mean values calculated by
the Commission. The spread of dairies should be
sufficient to ensure representative coverage of the
Member State.

improve

to

Gamma emitters and strontium-90 should be
monitored; potassium-40 should be reported as a
qualitative check of the methods used.

(vi) M i x e d d i e t

Due to the trade in foodstuffs, the mixed diet is
the regional or
not necessarily representative of
national environmental contamination but
is an
indicator of public exposure.

foodstuffs are measured as
Where appropriate,
separate ingredients; in this case the Member State
should report
to the Commission the results of
measurements of the individual ingredients and the
composition of the diet. The sampling programme
should take into consideration regional variations
in dietary patterns. Individual ingredients should be
from market places or local distribution centres
providing food products
to large population
groups. Appropriate account should be taken of
products from natural or semi-natural ecosystems,
to the extent that the fallout from the Chernobyl
accident may still affect such systems.

to give a representative figure for

In addition, Member States should sample complete
meals
the
average level of radioactivity in mixed diet. Actual
taken from large
meal
consumption
or
canteens
restaurants.

be
such

samples

centres

should

as

L 191/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

27.7.2000

Gamma emitters and strontium-90 should be
monitored; the measurements should be not less
frequent
carbo-14
measurements are performed, these should also be
reported.

quarterly. Where

than

5. The procedure for reporting to the Commission should be

as follows:

(a) Treatment of data

The Member States should forward to the Commission
data which have been subject to quality control and
cleared for public release. The data set should contain
all details listed in Annex IV.

The Member States should forward the data in the
format defined by the Commission and preferably use
the specialised software provided by the Commission.

Tndividual non-aggregated measurement data should
be transmitted for each medium and each site rather
than average values. However, if the data correspond
to direct continuous measurements, then the monthly
averages for each site should be communicated.

the impact of environmental radioactivity on public
should be
health. All data for a calendar year
submitted no later than 30 June of the following year.

(d) Transmission of other data

In addition to the data transmitted under point (a),
Member States should transmit
to the Commission
their national monitoring reports to allow a fuller
understanding of the significance of the data referred
to in Annex I in relation to the national monitoring
programmes. The Commission’s annual monitoring
reports will list references to those national reports.

(e)

Intergration of reporting practices

Data regularly reported under Article 36 of
the
Euratom Treaty, data voluntarily reported other than
national monitoring reports and large amounts of data
of types potentially relevant in emergency situations
should be forwarded through the same communication
means and channels and in the same format in order
to simplify reporting practices and to avoid duplication
of efforts and to conduct regular exercises of
the
emergency arrangements.

(b) Means of transmission

6. This Recommendation is addressed to the Member States.

Data should be forwarded in a digital form using the
most appropriate electronic media.

Done at Brussels, 8 June 2000.

(c) Periodicity

available data

forwarded to the
should be
All
Commission as soon as they are validated in order to
allow for a prompt assessment by the Commission of

For the Commission

Margot WALLSTR(cid:214)M

Member of the Commission

27.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 191/41

ANNEX I

Sample types and measurements

Media

Measurement category

Dense network

Sparse network

Airborne particulates

Cs-137, gross beta

Cs-137, Be-7

Air

Ambient gamma dose rate

Ambient gamma dose rate

Surface water

Cs-137, residual beta

Cs-137

Drinking water

Tritium, Sr-90, Cs-137

Tritium, Sr-90, Cs-137

Natural
compliance
98/83/EC

radionuclides as monitored in
Directive
Council

with

Natural
in
compliance with Council Directive 98/83/EC

as monitored

radionuclides

Milk

Cs-137, Sr-90

Mixed diet

Cs-137, Sr-90

Cs-137, Sr-90, K-40

Cs-137, Sr-90, C-14

L 191/42

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Official Journal of the European Communities

27.7.2000

ANNEX II

Definition of country partitions and country codes according to ISO 3166/4217

Country

Geographical region

Detailed description

Austria

Belgium

Germany (cid:151) North

Bremen, Hamburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein

Germany (cid:151) Central

Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland

AT

BE

DE-N

DE-C

DE-S

DE-E

DK

ES-N

ES-C

ES-S

ES-E

FI-N

FI-S

Germany (cid:151) South

Germany (cid:150) East

Denmark

Spain (cid:151) North

Spain (cid:151) Central

Spain (cid:151) South

Spain (cid:151) East

Finland (cid:151) North

Finland (cid:151) South

FR-NW

France (cid:151) Northwest

FR-NE

France (cid:151) Northeast

FR-SW

France (cid:151) Southwest

FR-SE

France (cid:151) Southeast

GR

IE

IT-N

IT-C

IT-S

Greece

Ireland

Italy (cid:151) North

Italy (cid:151) Central

Italy (cid:151) South

Baden-W(cid:252)rttemberg and Bayern

Berlin, Brandenburg,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen,
Sachsen-Anhalt and Th(cid:252)ringen

Arag(cid:243)n, Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia, Navarra,
Pais Vasco and Rioja

Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-Le(cid:243)n,
Extremadura and Madrid

Andalucia, Canarias, Ceuta and Melilla and
Murcia

Baleares, Cataluæa and Communidad
Valenciana

Lappland and Oulu

Ahvenanmaa, Central Finland, Hame, North
Karelia, Kuopio, Kymi, Mikkeli, Turku and
Pori, Uusimaa and Vaasa

Brittany, Centre, ˛le de France,
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Haute Normandie, Basse
Normandie, Pays de la Loire and Picardie

Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne-Ardenne,
Franche-ComtØ and Lorraine

Aquitaine, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin,
Midi-PyrØnØes and Poitou-Charentes

Auvergne, Corse, Provence-Alpes-C(cid:244)te-d’Azur
and Rh(cid:244)ne-Alpes

Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia,
Liguria, Lombardy, Piemonte, Provincie di
Trento e Bolzano, Val d’Aosta and Veneto

Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Tuscany,
Umbria and Sardinia

Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia and
Sicily

27.7.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 191/43

Country

Geographical region

Detailed description

LU

NL

PT

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Portugal

SE-N

Sweden (cid:151) North

J(cid:228)mtland, Norrbotten, V(cid:228)sterbotten and
V(cid:228)sternorrland

¯lvsborg, Blekinge, Bohus G(cid:228)vleborg,
Gotland, Halland, J(cid:246)nk(cid:246)ping, Kalmar,
Kopparberg, Kronoberg, Malm(cid:246)hus, (cid:214)rebro,
(cid:214)sterg(cid:246)tland, Skaraborg, Skane,
S(cid:246)dermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala,
V(cid:228)rmland and V(cid:228)stmanland.

East Anglia, Northern England, North-West
England, South-East England, South-West
England, East Midlands, West Midlands and
North-East England

SE-S

Sweden (cid:151) South

UK-EN

United Kingdom (cid:151) England

UK-SC

United Kingdom (cid:151) Scotland

UK-WL

United Kingdom(cid:151) Wales

UK-NI

United Kingdom(cid:151) Northern Ireland

L 191/44

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Definition of the geographical regions

27.7.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 191/45

ANNEX III

Reporting levels

Uniform reporting levels have been defined on the basis of their significance from an exposure point of view,
irrespective of the detection limits applied by the different laboratories.

Sample type

Radionuclide category

Reporting level

Air

Gross beta (based on Sr-90)

5 Eﬂ03 Bq/m3

Cs-137

3 Eﬂ02 Bq/m3

Surface water

Residual beta (based on Sr-90)

6 Eﬂ01 Bq/l

Drinking water

Milk

Mixed diet

(1) Becquerel per person per day.

Cs-137

H-3

Sr-90

Cs-137

Sr-90

Cs-137

Sr-90

Cs-137

1 E+00 Bq/l

1 E+02 Bq/l

6 Eﬂ02 Bq/l

1 Eﬂ01 Bq/l

2 Eﬂ01 Bq/l

5 Eﬂ01 Bq/l

1 Eﬂ01 Bq/d.p (1)

2 Eﬂ01 Bq/d.p

L 191/46

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Official Journal of the European Communities

27.7.2000

ANNEX IV

LIST OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS PER DATA RECORD

1. REQUIREMENTS FOR SAMPLING DATA

A. Sample characteristics

Sample type

Sample treatment (e.g. chemical treatment, delay of five days, etc.)

B. Date and time

Sampling date

Date type (e.g. begin date, end date, etc.)

Sampling time (1)

Time system (1) (e.g. GMT)

Duration of sampling (in hours)

C. Location

Locality name

NUTS-Code

Latitude, longitude specified in degrees, minutes or in decimal degrees

Catchment (1) (for surface waters: name of river, lake, reservoir or sea)

2. REQUIREMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT DATA

Laboratory name

Nuclide category

Apparatus type

Activity value

Uncertainty

Uncertainty type

Value unit

Value type

Reference date (1) (date for which the activity value is given)

Flow rate (1) (in case of river water)

Production rate (1) (for milk and drinking water)

Volume produced or distributed in a year (for drinking water).

(1) Only to be mentioned if appropriate.