CELEX: 51988PC0295
Language: en
Date: 1988-06-22
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) on the special conditions for exporting foodstuffs and feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency (presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 295
Vol. 1988/0115
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                             COM(88 ) 295 final
                                             Brussels , 22 June 1988
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                            Proposal for a
                        COUNCIL REGULATION   ( EEC )
 on the special conditions for exporting foodstuffs and feedingstuffs
           following a nuclear accident or any other case of
                          radiological emergency
                     ( presented by the Commission )
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       C 0M88 / 2 9 5 / Ft* A U
                                                                   C &P - Âfï
   Proposal for a regulation on the special conditions for exporting foodstuffs
        and feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of
                                radiological emergency
                                EXPLANATORÏ MEMORANDUM
1.   The proposal for a Council Regulation ( Euratom ) COM ( 87 ) 281 final laying
     down maximum permitted radioactivity levels for foodstuffs , feedingstuffs
     and drinking water in the case of abnormal levels of radioactivity or a
     nuclear accident , presented to the Council by the Commission on 16 June
     1987, covered both foodstuffs which were placed on the market and those
     which were exported, with a view to ensuring maximum health protection .
2.    In adopting this proposal on 22 December 1987 ( Regulation No 3954 /87 ),
     the Council opted for a legal instrument specific to exports .
     In fact , in point 5. of its Resolution 87 / C 352 / 01 adopted on the same day ,
     the Council agreed that a Council Regulation on the conditions governing
     the export of foodstuffs should be adopted as soon as possible . The
     Regulation should be based on a proposal from the Commission and cover the
     following obligations :
         the limits imposed by the Community on levels of radioactive
         contamination in foodstuffs placed on the Community market should apply
         to foodstuffs exported fTom the Community , unless importing States apply
         different limits ^
                                                                                               2
 ---pagebreak---                                            2
    -   in such an event , the Member States will take the necessary measures to
        ensure that their exporters observe these principles , such measures
        being notified to the Commission .
3- The Commission would like to draw the Council 's attention to the
   following two points :
   a ) Non-limitation of the principle of a ban on exports .
   Although it may appear reasonable to limit the principle of a ban in this
   way in order to enable foodstuffs to be exported when the limits accepted
   by third countries are higher than those adopted within the Community , it
   is however necessary to maintain an absolute ban for the following main
   reason :
   - In such special circumstances an exemption system cannot be adopted for practice
       reasons : the final destination of the product is not known when the
       contamination check is carried out . Moreover , even if an exemption
       system were to be introduced , the customs authorities would not be able
       to determine whether there were regulations in the importing third
       country which imposed higher limits than those in force in the EEC .
   In addition :
       point 1 of the above-mentioned Council Resolution invites the Commission
       to bring about , by all available means , international acceptance of the
       maximum levels permitted in the Community . The Community must set an
       example by imposing Community limits on its exporters even if , in the
       short term , this reduces their share of the market ;
       in the’ l-ong term , Community products must continue to inspire confidence
       and apply the strictest health requirements both to goods for export
       outside the EEC and to those for internal consumption;
   b ) Extension of the scope of the Regulation on exports to include
        feedingstuf fs .
        The Commission also takes into account exports of feedingstuf fs since
        these products are covered by Regulation ( Euratom ) No 3954 / 87 for
        reasons of public health .
4. This proposal is for a permanent regulation which allows temporary
   quantitative restrictions to be placed on exports of foodstuffs for health
   reasons following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological
   emergency .
   Since the procedure for laying down the maximum permitted Levels of
   contamination as well as the decision-making process have already been
   specified in Regulation No 3954 / 87, the proposal set out below for a
    regulation on exports simply makes these maximum permitted levels
   applicable to exported products .
                                                                                3
 ---pagebreak---                                                                  C0M88 / 295 / /-~f*v
                       Proposai for a Council Régulation ( EEC )
  on the special conditions for exporting foodstuffs and feedingstuff s following
            a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community , and
 in particular Article 113 thereof .
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,
Whereas the Commission must be informed of any nuclear accident or unusually
high Levels of radioactivity in accordance with Council Decision 87 / 600 / Euratom
of 14 December 1987 ( 1 ) on Community arrangements for the early exchange of
information in the event of a radiologial emergency or pursuant to the
convention of 26 September 1986 on the apid notification of nuclear accidents ;
Whereas on 22 December 1987 the Council adopted a Regulation ( Euratom ) No
3954 / 87 ( 2) laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination
of foodstuffs and of feedingstuff s following a nuclear accident or any other
case of radiological emergency ;
Whereas the maximum permitted levels take due account of the most recent
international scientific opinion while still reflecting the need to reassure
the population and to avoid any discrepancies in international regulations ;
Whereas the Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the
Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 22 December
1987, adopted at the same time as the above-mentioned Regulation , provides for
the adoption of specific rules governing the export of foodstuffs ;
( 1 ) 0J L 371 of 30.12.1987, p. 76
( 2 ) 0J L 371 of 30.12.1987, p. 11
 ---pagebreak---   Whereas after a nuclear accident or    in any other case of radiological
  emergency it is not ethically acceptable to allow products with
  contamination levels in excess of the maximum permitted levels relating to
  proouc ts for domestic consumption to be exported to third countries ;
 whereas in such special circumstances it is difficult in practical terms
  to treat products differently depending on their final destination ;
  Whereas the provisions concerning exports should also relate to feedingstuf fs
  since these products are covered by Regulation ( Euratom ) No 3954 / 87 ( 2 ) for
  reasons of public health ;
 Whereas it is therefore appropriate to define specific conditions for exporting
 foodstuffs and feedingstuf fs after a nuclear accident or any other case of
 radiological emergency and to apply to such products the maximum permitted
 levels of radioactive contamination laid down in the above-mentioned Regulation
 < 2>,
 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION
( 2) OJ L 371 of 30.12.1987, p. 11
                                                                                    r
 ---pagebreak---                                         - 3 -
                                      Artide 1
1. This Regulation Lays down the conditions for exporting foodstuffs and
   feedingstuf fs after a nuclear accident or any other radiological situation
   involving the risk of serious radioactive contamination of foodstuffs .
2. For the purposes of this Regulation , 'foodstuffs” means products which are
   intended for human consumption either immediately or after processing , and
   1 feedi ngstuf fs ' means products which are intended only for animal
   nutrition .
                                      Article 2
   Foodstuffs and feedingstuffs in which the level of radioactive
   contamination exceeds the relevant maximum permitted levels laid down in
   Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation ( Eu atom ) No 3954 / 87     may not be exported .
                                      Article 3
   The Member States shall carry out checks to ensure that the maximum
   permitted levels referred to in Article 2 are observed .
                                      Article 4
   Each Member State shall communicate to the Commission the
   information
            .
                  on the
                       _d_
                          application of this  Régulation, and in particular on any
                                          IBWPIR hâve been exceeded . The
                                                                                     L
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 4 -
                                   Article 5
The rules of application for this Regulation shall be laid down by the
Commission in accordance with the procedure defined in Article 7 of
Regulation ( Euratom ) No 3954 / 87 . To this end an ad hoc Committee *h*ll be set up.
                                   Article 6
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day after its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
This Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all
Member States .
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