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Radiation protection legislation

The regulatory basis is the Euratom Treaty (1957)

Article 2 of this Treaty stipulates that "in order to perform its task, the Community shall, as provided for in this Treaty…. establish uniform safety standards to protect the health of workers and of the general public and ensure that they are applied".

The requirements for radiation protection are laid down in Title II Chapter 3 "Health and Safety", Articles 30 to 39 of the Euratom Treaty.

Pursuant to the Treaty, a comprehensive set of directives, regulations, recommendations and decisions has been elaborated and adopted. The full texts of all Community-level provisions currently valid in the area of radiation protection are provided.

Specific legislation on Radiaition Protection in the medical field was revised in 1997.

Since the first Basic Safety Standards Directive adopted in 1958, this Directive was updated many times. The latest update was in 1996. Other legislation was adopted in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident, with regard to the exchange of information, and on contamination of foodstuffs and feedstuffs. Further legislation on specific aspects was developed with regard to outside workers, control of radioactive sources and shipment of radioactive waste and substances.

For the implementation of the requirements in primary legislation (Chapter 3 of the Euratom Treaty), non-binding legislation was adopted on the radiation protection provisions in the Euratom Treaty:

91/444/EURATOMAll available translations.
Commission Recommendation of 26 July 1991 on the application of the third and fourth paragraphs of Article 33 of the Euratom Treaty
(OJ L-238 of 27/08/91 page 31)

2010/635/EURATOM 
Commission Recommendation of 11 October 2010 on the application of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty
(OJ L-279 of 23/10/10 page 36)

2000/473/EURATOMAll available translations.
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.
(OJ L-191 of 27/07/2000 page 37)

2004/2/EURATOMAll available translations.
Commission Recommendation of 18 December 2003 on standardised information on radioactive airborne and liquid discharges into the environment from nuclear power reactors and reprocessing plants in normal operation
(OJ L-002 of 06/01/2004 page 36)

Communication concerning: "Verification of environmental radioactivity monitoring facilities under the terms of the EURATOM Treaty.  Practical arrangements for the conduct of verification visits in Member States."
(OJ C-155 of 04/07/2006 page 2)

Related documents

  • SECONDARY LEGISLATION

  • Radiation Protection in the medical field

    2010/0423/COM
    Communication of 6 August 2010 from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on medical applications of ionizing radiation and security of supply of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine
    Working document to the Communication SEC/2010/0974 pdf - 141 KB [141 KB]

    97/43/EURATOMAll available translations.
    Council Directive of 30 June 1997 on health protection of individuals against the dangers of ionizing radiation in relation to medical exposure, and repealing Directive 84/466/EURATOM
    (OJ L-180 of 09/07/97 page 22)

    Repealed legislation

    84/466/EURATOMAll available translations.
    (repealed with effect from 13 May 2000 and replaced by Council Directive 97/43/Euratom)
    Council Directive of 3 September 1984 laying down basic measures for the radiation protection of persons undergoing medical examination or treatment
    (OJ L-265 of 05/10/84 page 1) 

  • Basic Safety Standards

    96/29/EURATOMAll available translations.
    Council Directive of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation
    (OJ L-159 of 29/06/96 page 1)

    98/C133/03All available translations.
    Communication from the Commission concerning the implementation of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom
    (OJ L-133 of 30/04/98 page 3)

    Repealed legislation

    80/836/EURATOMAll available translations.
    (repealed with effect from 13 May 2000 and replaced by Council Directive 96/29/Euratom)
    Council Directive of 15 July 1980 amending the Directives laying down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation
    (OJ L-246 of 17/09/80 page 1)

    84/467/EURATOMAll available translations.
    (repealed with effect from 13 May 2000 and replaced by Council Directive 96/29/Euratom)
    Council Directive of 3 September 1984 amending Directive 80/836/EURATOM as regards the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation.
    (OJ L-265 of 05/10/84 page 4)

    85/C347/03All available translations.
    Communication from the Commission concerning the implementation of Council Directives 80/836/EURATOM and 84/467/EURATOM of 3 September 1984 amending Directive 80/836/EURATOM
    (OJ C-347 of 31/12/85 page 9)

  • Radon

    2001/928/EURATOM
    Commission Recommendation of 20 December 2001 on the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking water supplies
    (OJ L-344 of 28/12/2001 page 85)

    90/143/EURATOM 
    Commission Recommendation of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against indoor exposure to radon
    (OJ L-80 of 27/03/90 page 26)

  • Information

    2005/844/EURATOM  
    Commission Decision of 25 November 2005 concerning the accession of the European Atomic Energy Community to the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident
    (OJ L-314 of 30/11/2005 pages 21-22)

    2005/845/EURATOM 
    Commission Decision of 25 November 2005 concerning the accession of the European Atomic Energy Community to the Convention on Assistance in the case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
    (OJ L-314 of 30/11/2005 pages 27-34)

    89/618/EURATOM
    Council Directive of 27 November 1989 on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency
    (OJ L-357 of 07/12/89 page 31)

    91/C103/03All available translations. pdf 
    Commission Communication on the implementation of Council Directive 89/618/EURATOM
    (OJ C-103 of 19/04/91 page 12)

    87/600/EURATOM  
    Council Decision of 14 December 1987 on Community arrangements for the early exchange of information in the event of a radiological emergency
    (OJ L-371 of 30/12/87 page 76)

  • Contamination of foodstuffs and feedingstuffs

    Post-Chernobyl

    733/2008/EC 
    Council Regulation No 733/2008 of 15 July 2008 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station (codified version); Council Regulation (EC) No 1048/2009 extends its validity until 31 March 2020)
    (OJ L-201 of 30/07/2008, page 1)

    1048/2009/EC  
    Council Regulation No 1048/2009 of 23 October 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 733/2008 on the conditions covering imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident of the Chernobyl nuclear power station
    (OJ L-290 of 06/11/2009, page 4)

    1635/2006/EC  
    Commission Regulation No 1635/2006 of 6 November 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council 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
    (OJ L-306 of 07/11/2006 page 3)

    1609/2000/EC  
    Commission Regulation No 1609/2000/EC of 24 July 2000 establishing a list of products excluded from the application of Council 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
    (OJ  L-185 of 25/07/2000, page 27)

    274/2003/EC  
    Commission Recommendation No 274/2003 of 14 April 2003 on the protection and information of the public with regard to exposure resulting from the continued radioactive caesium contamination of certain wild food products as a consequence of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station
    OJ L-99 of 17/04/2003 page 55, amended by corrigendum published in OJ L-109 of 01/05/2003 page 27)

    List of Customs Offices in which products listed in Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1635/2006 (1) may be declared for free circulation in the European Community 
    (OJ C-262 of 29/09/2010, page 13)

  • Future accidents

    3954/87/EURATOM
    Council Regulation No 3954/87 of 22 December 1987 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency
    (OJ L-371 of 30/12/87 page 11)

    944/89/EURATOM
    Commission Regulation No 944/89 of 12 April 1989 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination in minor foodstuffs and of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency
    (OJ L-101 of 13/04/89 page 17)

    2218/89/EURATOM
    Council Regulation No 2218/89 of 18 July 1989 amending Regulation 87/3954/EURATOM laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency
    (OJ L-211 of 27/07/89 page 1)

    770/90/EURATOMAll available translations. pdf
    Commission Regulation No 770/90 of 29 March 1990 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency
    (OJ L-83 of 29/03/90 page 78)

    2219/89/EEC
    Council Regulation No 2219/89  of 18 July 1989 on the special conditions for exporting foodstuffs and feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency
    (OJ L-211 of 22/07/89 page 4)

  • Outside workers

    90/641/EURATOM
    Council Directive of 4 December 1990 on the operational protection of outside workers exposed to the risk of ionizing radiation during their activities in controlled areas
    (OJ L-349 of 13/12/90 page 21)

  • Shipments of radioactive waste and substances

    2006/117/EURATOM
    Council Directive of 20 November 2006 on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel
    (OJ L-337 of 05/12/2006 p. 21)

    93/1493/EURATOM
    Council Regulation of 8 June 1993 on shipments of radioactive substances between Member States
    (OJ L-148 of 19/06/93 page 1)

    2009/C41/02 
    Communication from the Commission concerning Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1493/93 on shipments of radioactive substances between Member States
    (OJ C-41 of 19/02/2009 page 2)

  • Control of radioactive sources

    2003/122/EURATOM
    Council Directive of 22 December 2003 on the control of high-activity sealed radioactive sources and orphan sources
    (OJ L-346 of 31/12/2003 pages 57-64

    Standard record sheet for High-Activity Sealed Sources (HASS) pdf - 78 KB [78 KB] ( Excel format excel8book - 23 KB [23 KB] )

  • Günther Oettinger
  • Philip Lowe
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