This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-15783517
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Chernobyl controls on north Wales farms may be lifted | Chernobyl controls on north Wales farms may be lifted |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Restrictions on hundreds of Welsh sheep farms dating back to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster could soon be lifted. | Restrictions on hundreds of Welsh sheep farms dating back to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster could soon be lifted. |
A consultation has been launched on whether to remove restrictions on 334 north Wales farms affected since 1986. | A consultation has been launched on whether to remove restrictions on 334 north Wales farms affected since 1986. |
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says recent tests have shown that the risk from radioactivity is now very low. | The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says recent tests have shown that the risk from radioactivity is now very low. |
Nearly 10,000 UK farms were affected, but restrictions only remain in Wales and on eight farms in Cumbria. | Nearly 10,000 UK farms were affected, but restrictions only remain in Wales and on eight farms in Cumbria. |
Contamination was found on some UK upland areas after a radioactive plume blew across Europe in the aftermath of the explosion at the Ukrainian plant. | Contamination was found on some UK upland areas after a radioactive plume blew across Europe in the aftermath of the explosion at the Ukrainian plant. |
The FSA says it wants the views of farmers. | The FSA says it wants the views of farmers. |
Restrictions were placed on farms to prevent sheep with unacceptable levels of radioactivity - predominantly radiocaesium - from entering the food chain. | Restrictions were placed on farms to prevent sheep with unacceptable levels of radioactivity - predominantly radiocaesium - from entering the food chain. |
Any sheep and lambs grazing on high ground have to be brought down to lower-lying areas to allow radiation measurements to decrease, before they can be sold. | Any sheep and lambs grazing on high ground have to be brought down to lower-lying areas to allow radiation measurements to decrease, before they can be sold. |
The FSA said safety concerns "are now very low," and controls were lifted in Northern Ireland in 2000 and in Scotland in 2010. | The FSA said safety concerns "are now very low," and controls were lifted in Northern Ireland in 2000 and in Scotland in 2010. |
Glyn Roberts, a farmer in Betws-y-Coed in Conwy county, said the main priority was to ensure that consumer confidence in Welsh lamb remained. | |
"If you go back 25 years, confidence in the Welsh lamb was very low and the industry has been working very hard to raise that confidence," he said. | |
"From my point of view, I don't want anything to be done to the detriment of the confidence that there is in Welsh lamb at the moment. | |
"Welsh lamb does carry the PGI (protected geographical indication) status which more or less is on a par with Champagne in France and that's the most important thing in this issue." | |
A recent survey of radiocaesium levels in sheep on restricted farms was conducted by the FSA, to assess the potential exposure of consumers to radiation. | A recent survey of radiocaesium levels in sheep on restricted farms was conducted by the FSA, to assess the potential exposure of consumers to radiation. |
'Timely' | 'Timely' |
The survey showed that levels of radiocaesium "rarely exceed the permitted limit, and even for more highly exposed consumers the risk is now very low". | The survey showed that levels of radiocaesium "rarely exceed the permitted limit, and even for more highly exposed consumers the risk is now very low". |
The FSA says that if the current control measures in England and Wales were removed, the risk to consumers would remain very low. | The FSA says that if the current control measures in England and Wales were removed, the risk to consumers would remain very low. |
"The control measures are now no longer considered proportionate to the very low food safety risk and are no longer required to comply with European food safety law," said a spokesman. | "The control measures are now no longer considered proportionate to the very low food safety risk and are no longer required to comply with European food safety law," said a spokesman. |
The Welsh government said it supported the FSA's approach, adding it was "timely that a consultation is undertaken to consider whether these restrictions should be lifted". | The Welsh government said it supported the FSA's approach, adding it was "timely that a consultation is undertaken to consider whether these restrictions should be lifted". |
"It's at the point when the risk is so low it's not worth worrying about," Prof Hugh Pennington, microbiologist and emeritus professor at Aberdeen University, told BBC Radio Wales. | "It's at the point when the risk is so low it's not worth worrying about," Prof Hugh Pennington, microbiologist and emeritus professor at Aberdeen University, told BBC Radio Wales. |
"The risk to health is so small it's less than the maximum level allowed to have X-rays or travelling on a transatlantic jet." | "The risk to health is so small it's less than the maximum level allowed to have X-rays or travelling on a transatlantic jet." |
Restrictions will remain in place during the consultation, which closes on 8 February, 2012. | Restrictions will remain in place during the consultation, which closes on 8 February, 2012. |
Previous version
1
Next version