The Regulation prescribes requirements for protection against ionising radiation in relation to the content of radionuclide caesium-137 (137Cs) in wood fuel imported from other countries in order to control ionising radiation in wood and ash generated in Latvian furnaces.

Requirements for protection against ionising radiation caused by radionuclide caesium-137 content in wood imported into Latvia from another country

The Regulation prescribes requirements for protection against ionising radiation for wood with certain Combined Nomenclature codes, which is imported into Latvia for use as biomass fuel.

In order to limit the import of wood that is intended for use in Latvia as biomass fuel and the combustion of which may result in ash with an increased presence of 137Cs, which exceeds the permissible standards of ash safe for the population and the environment, the Regulation prescribes several requirements both relating to wood importers and to wood combustion plant operators.

If wood is imported in order to be used in Latvia as biomass fuel, the wood importer must ensure that the accompanying documents of each cargo upon entry includes the original radiological examination document or a certified copy in the form of a paper document confirming that the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs of the wood cargo does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.

It is prohibited to import wood cargo for use as biomass fuel in Latvia if the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs of the wood cargo exceeds 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.

Wood imported into Latvia from another country is permitted to be used as biomass fuel if the wood has been radiologically examined and the examination confirms that the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs does not exceed 10 Bq/kg in dry wood.

If it is found that the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs exceeds 10 Bq/kg in wood imported into Latvia from another country and intended for use as biomass fuel, the wood importer must return such wood to the sender immediately, but not later than within one month.

An operator of a wood combustion plant with a rated thermal input of more than 5 MW using wood imported into Latvia from another country as biomass fuel, must perform specific radioactivity tests on the ash resulting from wood combustion once a month during the heating season from October to April.

The Regulation includes the following conditions regarding the use of ash:

- ash resulting from wood combustion, in which the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs, which is less than or equal to 1 000 Bq/kg in dry ash, is detected, may be used in agriculture and forestry in accordance with the legislation in the relevant sector;

- ash which is found to contain radionuclide caesium 137Cs with a specific radioactivity greater than 1 000 Bq/kg but not exceeding 10 000 Bq/kg in dry ash may be disposed of in a municipal waste landfill or used to form coverings in a municipal or hazardous waste landfill;

- if the specific radioactivity of the radionuclide caesium 137Cs, which is equal to or greater than 10 000 Bq/kg in dry ash, is detected in the ash resulting from wood combustion, the ash is to be managed as radioactive waste.