Message 002
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2020) 03498
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Translation of the message 001
Notification: 2020/0592/LV
No abre el plazo - Nezahajuje odklady - Fristerne indledes ikke - Kein Fristbeginn - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délais - Non fa decorrere la mora - Neietekmē atlikšanu - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Ma’ jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dawmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Neotvorí oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Inleder ingen frist - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare.
(MSG: 202003498.EN)
1. MSG 002 IND 2020 0592 LV EN 24-09-2020 LV NOTIF
2. LV
3A. Ekonomikas ministrija, Tālr.:+371 67013268, E-pasts: notification@em.gov.lv
3B. Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās attīstības ministrija, Tālr.: +371 67026487, E-pasts: natalija.slaidina@varam.gov.lv
4. 2020/0592/LV - N00E
5. Requirements for protection against ionising radiation caused by radionuclide caesium-137 content in wood imported into Latvia from another country
6. The Regulation prescribes requirements for protection against ionising radiation in relation to the content of radionuclide caesium-137 (137Cs) in wood fuel imported from other countries in order to control ionising radiation in wood and ash generated in Latvian furnaces.
The Regulation includes:
- limit values for 137Cs in imported wood, if this wood or its processed products (e.g. wood chips) are planned to be used in Latvia as biomass fuel;
(the specified limit value for the presence of 137Cs is 10 Bq/kg in dry wood);
- self-monitoring requirements for Latvian furnaces;
- requirements for wood ash.
The scope of the Regulation includes wood with certain Combined Nomenclature codes in accordance with the specification in the draft, intended for use in Latvia as biomass fuel.
The radioactivity limit value specified in the Regulation does not apply to wood that is imported into Latvia for another purpose, for example, for the manufacture of furniture. The scope of the draft also does not include wood in transit through Latvia.
7. -
8. The Regulation prescribes requirements for protection against ionising radiation for wood with certain Combined Nomenclature codes, which is imported into Latvia for use as biomass fuel.
In order to limit the import of wood that is intended for use in Latvia as biomass fuel and the combustion of which may result in ash with an increased presence of 137Cs, which exceeds the permissible standards of ash safe for the population and the environment, the Regulation prescribes several requirements both relating to wood importers and to wood combustion plant operators.
If wood is imported in order to be used in Latvia as biomass fuel, the wood importer must ensure that the accompanying documents of each cargo upon entry includes the original radiological examination document or a certified copy in the form of a paper document confirming that the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs of the wood cargo does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.
It is prohibited to import wood cargo for use as biomass fuel in Latvia if the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs of the wood cargo exceeds 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.
Wood imported into Latvia from another country is permitted to be used as biomass fuel if the wood has been radiologically examined and the examination confirms that the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.
If it is found that the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs exceeds 10 Bq/kg in wood imported into Latvia from another country and intended for use as biomass fuel, the wood importer must return such wood to the sender immediately, but not later than within one month.
An operator of a wood combustion plant with a rated thermal input of more than 5 MW using wood imported into Latvia from another country as biomass fuel, must perform specific radioactivity tests on the ash resulting from wood combustion once a month during the heating season from October to April.
The Regulation includes the following conditions regarding the use of ash:
- ash resulting from wood combustion, in which the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs, which is less than or equal to 1 000 Bq/kg in dry ash, is detected, may be used in agriculture and forestry in accordance with the legislation in the relevant sector;
- ash which is found to contain radionuclide caesium 137Cs with a specific radioactivity greater than 1 000 Bq/kg but not exceeding 10 000 Bq/kg in dry ash may be disposed of in a municipal waste landfill or used to form coverings in a municipal or hazardous waste landfill;
- if the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs, which is equal to or greater than 10 000 Bq/kg in dry ash, is detected in the ash resulting from wood combustion, the ash is to be managed as radioactive waste.
9. The purpose of the Regulation is to determine the requirements for the presence of radionuclide caesium 137Cs in wood fuel imported into Latvia and to control compliance with these requirements, as well as to determine the permissible management of ash resulting from wood combustion in order to protect the health of the population and the environment of Latvia from adverse ionising radiation.
The requirements included in the Regulation have been determined by analysing the experience of other countries, guidelines, the conclusions and recommendations of research conducted by the largest heat supply company in Riga and taking into account considerations of human and environmental protection against ionising radiation. As a result of the aforementioned research, it is recommended to determine the maximum level of radionuclide Cs-137 in wood fuel at 1 Bq/kg, if the maximum permissible radioactivity in the ash is 1 000 Bq/kg (or 10 Bq/kg if the maximum permissible radioactivity in the ash is 10 000 Bq/kg).
10. Reference(s) to basic text(s): Act on radiation safety and nuclear safety
11. No
12. -
13. No
14. No
15. Yes
16. TBT aspect
Yes
SPS aspect
No - the draft is neither a sanitary nor phytosanitary measure.
**********
European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Fax: +32 229 98043
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
