Belarus fails to promote stricter strontium standards in Customs Union

In early 2014, the Council of Ministers of Belarus announced it was set to address the issue of strontium levels in foodstuffs, because the Belarusian standards (RDU-99) were different from the ones approved in the Eurasian Economic Space.

Euroradio reminds that some provisions in Customs Union's Technical Regulation No 880 "On Foodstuffs Safety" are not compatible with Belarusian laws. Due to negligence of 'Eurasian' lawmakers, the allowed levels of strontium in baby food were 13 times more than in Belarus; for milk - 5 times more The list can be extended. 

Earlier this year, Belarusian Ministry of Healthcare approved a resolution to keep the current (stricter) radiation levels norms (RDU-99). It means that, in principle, strontium-contaminated foodstuffs cannot be allowed to enter the market in Belarus.

But have Belarus officials done anything to amend the controversial Technical Regulation No880 of the Customs Union?

Euroradio posed this question to the Eurasian Economic Commission. It turned out that over the past several months no issues associated with foodstuffs had been put on Commission's agenda for review. As for the Technical Regulation in question, the latest amendments were made last year.

“EEC has not received any scientifically grounded recommendations or proposals on this issue from the Council of Ministers," says EEC spokesman Siarhei Tsyplyankou. "The public discussion of the amendments draft No 2 for Technical Regulation No880 was finished in July 2014. However, no changes as to strontium levels standards were introduced.”

Strontium level in foodstuffs is as a significant issue as oil supplies or the exports of meat and dairy products. Moreover, local scientists are considered the most competent in terms of radiation safety because of the Chernobyl nuclear accident's effects on Belarus. Overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear contamination has always been in the center of the ideological policy in this country. But it appears that Belarusian officials decided not to fight for their interests in the framework of the Customs Union on such a key issue for Belarus.

A Euroradio source close to the situation from an influential state agency that was part of the discussions says negative consequences of this inaction should not be ruled out.

“If for some reason there will be a discussion about a need to revise the Belarusian radiation safety standards, lawyers can do it in favor of the Technical Regulation No880. As an international obligation, it overrides the national norms."  

The story about serious discrepancies in strontium levels standards grabbed attention of the media and public after Euroradio's investigation in the spring of 2013. Back then, the tests run on potatoes showed that strontium levels were many times higher than normal. However, the laboratory said they followed Technical Regulation No880, which considers those levels normal - yet they cannot be approved by national standards in Belarus.