Council Regulation (EC) No 616/2000 of 20 March 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station

Council Regulation (EC) No 616/2000
of 20 March 2000
amending Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EEC) No 737/90(1) fixed, for agricultural products in third countries and intended for human consumption, maximum permitted levels of radioactivity with which imports must comply and in connection with which checks are carried out by the Member States. The said Regulation is to apply only until 31 March 2000.
(2) The reasons prevailing when the said Regulation was adopted and extended are still valid, because radioactive contamination of certain agricultural products originating in the third countries most affected by the accident still exceeds the maximum permitted levels of radioactivity laid down in that Regulation.
(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1661/1999(2) revising Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1983/88(3) has, inter alia, introduced specific conditions strengthening the controls on the import of non-cultivated mushrooms from a number of third countries.
(4) There is now scientific evidence that the duration of caesium- 137 contamination following the Chernobyl accident of a number of products originating from species living and growing in forests and wooded areas essentially relates to the physical half-life of that radionuclide which is some 30 years.
(5) The experience gained in the implementation of the checks referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 737/90, in particular regarding the imports of dried mushrooms, has shown that, in order to remain consistent, the maximum permitted levels referred to in Article 3 thereof are to be calculated for all concentrated or dried products on the basis of the reconstituted products as ready for consumption.
(6) Council Regulation (Euratom) No 3954/87(4) laid down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feeding stuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency. It is necessary, in such situations, to ensure consistency of any measures implemented.
(7) It is advisable to extend for a second time Regulation (EEC) No 737/90.
(8) The measures necessary for the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(5),