91998E3684

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3684/98

by James Nicholson (I-EDN) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Chernobyl disaster - imports of fish

What safeguards does the Commission have in place to deal with fish imported from areas which may have been contaminated by fall-out from the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power station?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1999)

The release for free circulation in the Community of agricultural products imported from third countries is subject to the conditions laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) 737/90 of 22 March 1999 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station(1), which stipulates that these products must not exceed accumulated maximum tolerances for caesium-134 and caesium-137 of 370 Bq/kg for milk, milk products and foodstuffs intended for infants and 600 Bq/kg for other products.

However, to take account of the fact that it is impossible for certain products to have been significantly contaminated by fallout from the Chernobyl accident and of changes in the radiological situation in the countries affected by the fallout, the Commission has decided, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 737/90, to adopt a regularly updated list of products which are excluded from the scope of the abovementioned Regulation. The first list of excluded products in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) 146/91 of 22 January 1991(2) contained a large number of products, including in particular fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates of marine origin only. Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates from fresh water were excluded in 1993 when a new list was adopted under Commission Regulation (EEC) 1518/93 of 21 June 1993(3). Since 1991, the Commission, assisted by an ad hoc committee made up of representatives of the Member States, has regularly reexamined the list. The last revision of the list of products was in 1997 and led to the adoption by the Commission of Regulation (EC) 727/97 of 24 April 1997(4). Although fish and other aquatic products are no longer covered by the scope of Regulation (EC) 737/90, the Member States must comply with the provisions of the Directive laying down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public against the dangers of ionising radiation(5), including exposure resulting from the consumption of foodstuffs.

(1) OJ L 82, 23.3.1990.

(2) OJ L 17, 23.1.1991.

(3) OJ L 150, 22.6.1993.

(4) OJ L 108, 25.4.1997.

(5) OJ L 246, 17.9.1980, OJ L 265, 5.10.1984, OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.