CONFIDENTIAL
166/1
НИИ (661
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
19 MAY 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDE
PA
COUNTRY
in
GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM COPENHAGEN
TO DESKBY 1909OOZ FCO
TELNO 0124
OF 16104OZ MAY 86
INFO PRIORITY UKREP BRUSSELS
FRAME GENERAL
62
YOUR TELNO 180 TO ROME: CHERNOBYL : EC BAN ON FOOD .
SUMMARY
pa
1. DANISH ANXIETY REMAINS HIGH .ON 15 MAY DENMARK AMENDED ITS BAN ON FOOD IMPORTS BUT IT IS STILL STRICTER THAN THE EC MEASURE. THE DANES WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY OPPOSE RELAXATION OF THE EC
MEASURE BEFORE 31 MAY.
DETAIL
2. SOME DATA IS APPEARING IN THE PRESS, AS IN UK, BUT THE DANISH AUTHORITIES ARE NOT FORMALLY RELEASING INFORMATION ABOUT RADIATION LEVELS. IN EASTERN EUROPE...
3. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING DECISIONS ON FOOD IMPORTS. IT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT FOOD AND DRINK PRESERVED OR DEEP FROZEN BEFORE 26 APRIL COULD NOW BE IMPORTED TO DENMARK WHERE IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO TESTING FOR RADIATION LEVELS BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR DISTRIBUTION.IN ADDITION FOOD WHICH CAN BE SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN FROM OUTSIDE THE
AREA COVERED BY THE BAN SINCE BEFORE 26 APRIL COULD ALSO BE IMPORTED.THIS LEAVES INTACT THE COMPREHENSIVE BAN ON ALL FOOD
PRODUCED AFTER 26 APRIL.
4. PUBLIC ANXIETY ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER REMAINS INTENSE, NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE OF FEARS OF FALLOUT FROM CHERNOBYL (LOCAL RADIATION LEVELS ARE NO LONGER REPORTED) BUT BECAUSE OF FEARS OF AN ACCIDENT AT THE SWEDISH BARSBAECK NUCLEAR POWER STATION, WHICH IS ONLY 12 MILES EAST OF COPENHAGEN ACROSS THE SOUND. IT HAS BEEN REVEALED THAT A DANISH TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CAST DOUBT ON THE ADEQUACY OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AT THE PLANT BEFORE WORK STARTED IN THE MID-70S.WORSE, FORM OUR POINT OF VIEW, A GREENPEACE REPORT ON THE INADEQUACY OF SHIELDS AT BRITISH NUCLEAR PLANTS HAS LED LOCAL GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS TO CLAIM THAT BRITISH AGR REACTORS ARE LESS SAFE THAN CHERNOBYL (WE ARE OBTAINING GUIDANCE SEPARATELY TO
COUNTERACT THIS PUBLICITY).
CONFIDENTIAL
/COMMENT