24.3.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L7501 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 616/2000 of 20 March 2000 amending Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural prod- ucts originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, mushrooms, has shown that, in order to remain consis- tent, the maximum permitted levels referred to in Article 3 thereof are to be calculated for all concentrated or dried products on the basis of the reconstituted products as ready for consumption. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, (6)  Council Regulation (Euratom) No 3954/87 (¥ laid down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination Whereas: of foodstuffs and of feeding stuffs following a nuclear accident or any other case of radiological emergency. It is necessary, in such situations, to ensure consistency of (1) Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 () fixed, for agricultural any measures implemented. products in third countries and intended for human consumption, maximum permitted levels of radioactivity with which imports must comply and in connection (7) It is advisable to extend for a second time Regulation with which checks are carried out by the Member States. (EEC) No 737/90. The said Regulation is to apply only until 31 March 2000. (8)  The measures necessary for the implementation of Regu- lation (EEC) No 737/90 should be adopted in accord- (2)  The reasons prevailing when the said Regulation was ance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June adopted and extended are still valid, because radioactive 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of contamination of certain agricultural products origin- implementing powers conferred on the Commission (), ating in the third countries most affected by the accident still exceeds the maximum permitted levels of radioac- tivity laid down in that Regulation. (3)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1661/1999 (%) revising HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1983/88 (*) has, inter alia, introduced specific conditions strengthening the controls on the import of non-cultivated mushrooms ) from a number of third countries. Article 1 (4)  There is now scientific evidence that the duration of Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 is hereby amended as follows: caesium- 137 contamination following the Chernobyl accident of a number of products originating from (a) Article 3 shall be replaced by the following: species living and growing in forests and wooded areas essentially relates to the physical half-life of that radio- ‘Article 3 nuclide which is some 30 years. The maximum permitted levels referred to in Article 2 shall b follows: (5)  The experience gained in the implementation of the ¢ as foflows checks referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 73790, in particular regarding the imports of dried the accumulated maximum radioactive level in terms of caesium — 134 and — 137 shall be(): () O] L 82, 29.3.1990, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 686/95 (O] L 71, 31.3.1995, p. 15). () OJ L 371, 30.12.1987, p. 11. Regulation as last amended by Regu- () OJ L 197, 29.7.1999, p. 17. lation (Euratom) No 2218/89 (OJ L 211, 22.7.1989, p. 1). () O] L 174, 6.7.1988, p. 32. () O] L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.