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Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 576

Cabinet Regulation No 576

Riga, 15 September 2020 (Ref. No 54 § 41 )
Riga, 15 September 2020 (Minutes No. 54, § 41)

Requirements for protection against ionising radiation from the radionuclide caesium-137 (hereinafter – radionuclide 137Cs) in wood imported into Latvia from another country

Issued pursuant to
Issued pursuant to the law
„On radiation safety and nuclear safety“
Section 3(3)

Article 3(3) of the law

on radiation safety and nuclear safety

1. The Regulation lays down the requirements for protection against ionising radiation from the radionuclide caesium-137 (hereinafter – radionuclide 137Cs) in wood imported into Latvia from another country.
1. The Regulation lays down the requirements for protection against ionising radiation from the radionuclide caesium-137 (hereinafter, radionuclide 137Cs) in wood imported into Latvia from another country.

2. For the purposes of this Regulation:

2.1. Wood importer – an economic operator who imports wood from another country into Latvia under the combined nomenclature codes mentioned in paragraph 3 of this Regulation, pursuant to Council Regulation No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, the value of which exceeds EUR 300 as shown in the accompanying documents;
2.1. Wood importer — an economic operator who imports wood from another country into Latvia under the combined nomenclature codes mentioned in paragraph 3 of this Regulation pursuant to Council Regulation No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff, and the value of the said wood exceeds EUR 300 as shown in the accompanying documents;

2.2. Wood buyer – a person who buys wood imported from another country for the purpose of conducting business in Latvia (including combustion plant operators and wood processors);

2.3. Radiation test report – a document showing the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in cargo, for example, a radiation passport issued by an accredited laboratory or a document issued by the forestry authority of the country of dispatch with a reference to the relevant accredited laboratory report, or another document showing the specific radioactivity level of the cargo;
2.3. Radiation test report — a document showing the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in cargo, for example, a radiation passport issued by an accredited laboratory or a document issued by the forestry authority of the country of dispatch with a reference to the relevant accredited laboratory report, or another document showing the specific radioactivity level of the cargo;

2.4. dry ash – wood ash heated to a constant sample weight;


3.4.2. 4401 40 90 (other).

4. If wood is imported into Latvia for use as biomass fuel, the wood importer shall ensure that at the time of importation the original or a certified copy (hard copy) of the radiation test report is attached to the accompanying documents of each item of cargo, showing that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in the wood cargo does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood. The copy of the radiation test report shall be certified by the organisation that issued the document or the wood importer.
4. If wood is imported into Latvia for use as biomass fuel, the wood importer shall ensure that at the time of importation the original or a certified copy (hard copy) of the radiation test report is attached to the accompanying documents of each consignment, showing that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in the wood cargo does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood. The copy of the radiation test report shall be certified by the organisation that issued the document or the wood importer.

5. The State Environmental Service (hereinafter – the Service) has the right to carry out a specific radioactivity test of the wood to make sure the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in the wood cargo complies with the requirements of this Regulation.
5. The State Environmental Service (hereinafter, the Service) shall have the right to carry out a specific radioactivity test of the wood to make sure the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in the wood cargo complies with the requirements of this Regulation.

6. The radiation test referred to in paragraph 4 of this Regulation shall be performed in one of the following laboratories:


11. The release of timber cargo for free circulation in Latvia is not permitted if the customs official establishes that:

11.1. the radiation test report shows that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in the wood cargo exceeds 10 Bq/kg in dry wood and the wood importer cannot produce the certificate;
11.1. the radiation test report shows that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs in the wood cargo exceeds 10 Bq/kg in dry wood, and the wood importer cannot produce the certificate;

11.2. the wood importer cannot produce the radiation test report and the certificate;


12. Upon transferring the cargo to the wood buyer, the economic operator shall hand over the radiation test report and the certificate. The wood buyer shall keep the radiation test report and the certificate for five years from the date of receipt of the wood cargo and shall produce it to the Service upon request.

13. Wood imported into Latvia from another country may be used as biomass fuel if the wood has undergone a radiological test in one of the laboratories referred to in paragraph 6 of this Regulation and the test has confirmed that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.
13. Wood imported into Latvia from another country may be used as biomass fuel if the wood has undergone a radiological test in one of the laboratories referred to in paragraph 6 of this Regulation and the test has confirmed that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.

14. If it is found that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs exceeds 10 Bq/kg in wood, which is imported from another country for use as biomass fuel, the wood importer shall return such wood to the consignor immediately, but not later than within one month.
14. If it is found that the specific radioactivity level of the radionuclide 137Cs exceeds 10 Bq/kg in wood, which is imported from another country for use as biomass fuel, the wood importer shall return such wood to the consignor immediately, but no later than within one month.

15. In combustion plants with a rated thermal input exceeding 5 MW, the combustion plant operator using wood which is imported into Latvia from another country as a biomass fuel shall, during the heating season (from October to April) perform monthly specific radioactivity tests for fly ash resulting from the combustion of wood or, if the relevant combustion plant does not have separate flue gas filters for fly ash installed – specific radioactivity tests for heavy ash.

16. Wood ash in which the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide 137Cs is 1 000 Bq/kg in dry ash or less may be used in agriculture and forestry, subject to the rules and regulations applicable to the relevant sector.
16. Wood ash in which the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide 137Cs is 1,000 Bq/kg in dry ash or less may be used in agriculture and forestry, subject to the rules and regulations applicable to the relevant sector.

17. Wood ash in which the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide 137Cs is between 1 000 and 10 000 Bq/kg in dry ash may be dumped in municipal landfills or used as cover material in municipal or hazardous waste landfills.
17. Wood ash in which the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide 137Cs is between 1,000 and 10,000 Bq/kg in dry ash may be dumped in municipal landfills or used as cover material in municipal or hazardous waste landfills.

18. If the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide 137Cs in wood ash is 10 000 Bq/kg or more in dry ash, the combustion plant operator shall immediately notify the Service. In this case the combustion plant operator shall ensure that the ash is managed in accordance with the rules and regulations for the handling of radioactive waste and related materials.
18. If the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide 137Cs in wood ash is 10,000 Bq/kg or more in dry ash, the combustion plant operator shall immediately notify the Service. In this case the combustion plant operator shall ensure that the ash is managed in accordance with the rules and regulations for the handling of radioactive waste and related materials.

19. With regard to combustion plants with a rated thermal input of 5 MW or more, the Service has the right to carry out specific ash radioactivity tests for fly ash or, if separate flue gas filters for fly ash are not installed – specific ash radioactivity tests for heavy ash.

20. In each test for specific radioactivity of ash referred to in paragraphs 15 and 19 of this Regulation, one sample of ash shall be tested using the volume necessary for the relevant laboratory to perform the test.
20. In each test for specific radioactivity of ash referred to in paragraph 15 and paragraph 19 of this Regulation, one sample of ash shall be tested using the volume necessary for the relevant laboratory to perform the test.

21. The specific radioactivity tests for ash referred to in paragraphs 15 and 19 of this Regulation shall be performed in a laboratory accredited by the Latvian national accreditation body in accordance with the rules and regulations on the assessment, accreditation and supervision of conformity assessment bodies or in a laboratory accredited in another European Economic Area country.
21. The specific radioactivity tests for ash referred to in paragraph 15 and paragraph 19 of this Regulation shall be performed in a laboratory accredited by the Latvian national accreditation body in accordance with the rules and regulations on the assessment, accreditation and supervision of conformity assessment bodies or in a laboratory accredited in another European Economic Area country.

22. The documents related to the tests of the specific radioactivity of ash performed by a combustion plant operator shall be kept by the combustion plant operator for five years from the date of the performance of the specific radioactivity test and shall be produced to the Service upon request.

23. This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2021.
23. This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 April 2021.

Prime Minister A. K. Kariņš
Prime Minister A. K. Kariņš

Minister of Environmental

Protection and Regional Development J. Pūce
Protection and Regional Development J. Pūce