S.L. 585.1 Art. 7Optimisation - use ofReferencelevels in existing and emergency situations.

(1) Without prejudice to reference levels set for equivalent doses, that may be specified by the Commission, the reference levels for any persons expressed in effective doses shall be:

1mSv per year for existing exposure situations and 20mSv (acute or annual) for emergency exposure situations.

Provided that optimization of protection shall give priority to exposures above these reference levels and shall continue to be implemented below the reference level.

Provided that in specific situations the Commission may lower the reference levels taking into account optimisation and shall give due consideration to:

(a) a reference level below 20mSv may be set in an emergency exposure situation where appropriate protection can be provided without causing a disproportionate detriment from the corresponding countermeasures or an excessive cost;

(b) a reference level below 1mSv per year may be set, where appropriate, in an existing exposure situation for

(2) For the transition from an emergency exposure situation to an existing exposure situation, appropriate reference levels shall be set, in particular upon the termination of long-term countermeasures.

(3) The reference levels set shall take account of the features of prevailing situations as well as societal criteria, which may include the following:

(a) for exposures below or equal to 1mSv per year, general information on the level of exposure, without specific consideration of individual exposures;

(b) in the range up to or equal to 20mSv per year, specific information to enable individuals to manage their own exposure, if possible

(c) in the range up to or equal to 100 mSv per year, assessment of individual doses and specific information on radiation risks and on available actions to reduce exposures.

(4) For existing exposure situations involving exposure to radon, the reference levels shall be set in terms of radon activity -3 concentration in air of 300 Bqm for members of the public and workers.