TNAG-1497-FCO40-2055-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 89

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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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