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GOVERNMENTS, YOU WILL WISH TO STRESS THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY
DECISION AND DETAILED QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE
COMMISSION AND THE PRESIDENCY. BUT YOU MAY FIND IT USEFUL TO
DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN DISCUSSING THE UK'S NATIONAL
MEASURES UNDER THE REGULATION:
(A) WE ARE PLEASED THAT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE NOW AVAILABLE,
INCLUDING THAT PROVIDED BY COUNTRIES TO WHICH THE BAN APPLIED,
HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE BROAD-BRUSH BAN WITH MORE
SELECTIVE MEASURES. A NUMBER OF STATES AFFECTED HAVE URGED US
AND OUR PARTNERS TO DO JUST THIS. INDEED, SEVERAL HAVE OFFERED
TO SUBMIT THEIR EXPORTS TO A CERTIFICATION REGIME.
(B) (IF ASKED WHETHER THE UK IS ALONE OR IN SMALL MINORITY WITHIN
EC IN DEMANDING CERTIFICATES) ARTICLE 4 MERELY REQUIRES MEMBER
STATES TO CHECK THAT THE AGREED TOLERANCE LEVELS ARE BEING
RESPECTED. EACH MEMBER STATE WILL EMPLOY DIFFERENT METHODS TO
COMPLY WITH THIS OBLIGATION, THOUGH ALL WILL HAVE TO ENSURE THAT
IDENTICAL STANDARDS FOR ALL THIRD-COUNTRY IMPORTS ARE BEING MET.
IN THE UK'S CASE, OUR SAMPLING/MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS ARE SUCH
AS TO MAKE IT PRUDENT TO REQUIRE EXPORT CERTIFICATES FROM THOSE
COUNTRIES WE CONSIDER TO HAVE BEEN MOST EXPOSED TO CAESIUM
CONTAMINATION. AMONGST OTHER THINGS THIS WILL MINIMISE DELAYS AT
PORTS OF ENTRY. (EASTERN EUROPEAN POSTS MAY WISH TO POINT TO THE
INCLUSION OF SWEDEN AND AUSTRIA IN OUR LIST TO REBUT CHARGES OF
POLITICAL BIAS. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, THIS DOES NOT REPEAT
NOT MEAN THAT YOUR STAFF NEED TAKE PRECAUTIONS OVER FOOD BEYOND
THOSE OF WHICH YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE.)
(C) WE HAVE COME UP WITH THE LEAST ONEROUS PROCEDURE CONSISTENT
WITH OUR OBLIGATION TO APPLY THE REGULATION AND PROTECT OUR
POPULATION FROM ANY HEALTH HAZARD. WE INTEND TO ADMINISTER THE
SYSTEM AS FLEXIBLY AS POSSIBLE. MUST LOOK TO THE EXPORTING STATE
TO HELP US BY CAREFUL COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CERTIFICATION
PROCEDURES.
(D) (IF ASKED ABOUT GOODS ALREADY IN TRANSIT EG FROM GDR, SWEDEN AND AUSTRIA)
UK PORT HEALTH AUTHORITIES WILL USE THEIR DISCRETION, BUT IN CASE
OF ANY DOUBT WILL HAVE TO TEST.
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