Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Paraguay (Ratification: 1967)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes that the Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare has issued various resolutions concerning workers’ exposure to ionizing radiations, in particular in the health sector. It further notes the Government’s indication that resolution No. 678 of 16 July 1979 establishing standards concerning the risks related to the use of X-rays and radiotherapy in medical applications, has been repealed. The maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations which may be received from sources external or internal to the body and maximum permissible amounts of radioactive substances which can be taken into the body are now fixed by resolution No. 488/90, issued by the Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare, approving technical standards and a manual on radiological protection and nuclear safety in the health sector. The Committee, noting that only the health sector is covered by resolution No. 488/90, requests the Government to indicate the activities, other than those in the health sector, which involve exposure to ionizing radiation and to provide information on the measures taken or contemplated to ensure that the provisions of the Convention are applied to all workers exposed to ionizing radiations in the course of their work, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention.

2. Article 3, paragraph 1, Article 6, paragraph 1, and Article 4. The Committee notes that article 54 of resolution No. 488/90 refers to the dose limits established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 1990 to ensure effective protection of workers, which also served as a basis for the International Safety Standards of 1994. Pursuant to article 55(a) of resolution No. 488/90, the annual dose limit of exposure to ionizing radiation for workers directly engaged in radiation work is 50 mSv. The ICRP however adopted in 1990 a value of 20 mSv as the annual dose limit, averaged over five years (100 mSv), with the further provision that the effective dose should not exceed 50 mSv in any single year. With regard to the dose limits for pregnant women once the pregnancy is declared, article 58 in conjunction with article 66 of the above resolution provides for a dose limit which is three-tenths of the dose limits established for radiation workers, thus 15 mSv per year. The Committee would therefore draw the Government’s attention to the explanations given in paragraph 13 of its 1992 general observation under the Convention where it referred to the Recommendations of the ICRP. In its current Recommendations, the ICRP recommends that the methods of protection at work for women who may be pregnant should provide a standard of protection for any unborn child broadly comparable with that provided for members of the general public, which are not to be exposed to more than 1 mSv. Once the pregnancy is declared, a supplementary equivalent dose limit of 2 mSv should be applied to the surface of the abdomen (lower trunk) for the remainder of the pregnancy. In this respect, the Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication that in practice the dose limits adopted by the international organs are applied. At present, the Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare has submitted a draft law, which reflects the dose limits adopted by the ICRP in 1990. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the present status of the above draft law within the legislative process. It further would ask the Government to supply a copy of the above draft law as soon as it has been adopted.

3. Article 5. The Committee notes that pursuant to article 54 of resolution No. 488/90, the objectives of effective radiation protection are determined by the application of the terms "justification", "optimization" and "limitation of individual doses", in conformity with the requirements set forth by the ICRP. It further notes that the above terms are defined in the introductory remarks to article 54 of resolution No. 488/90. However, this resolution as well as the other legislative texts adopted, neither do they really require that every effort has to be made to restrict the exposure of workers to the lowest practicable level, nor do they provide that any unnecessary exposure must be avoided by all parties concerned. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated to restrict workers’ exposure to the lowest practicable level, and to ensure that any unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiations is avoided. In addition, the Committee asks the Government to explain the legal nature of the introductory remarks to each chapter of resolution No. 488/90, and to indicate in particular whether these remarks are binding and can therefore be used as a basis for legal claims.

4. Article 6, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that article 54 of resolution No. 488/90 refers to the dose limits established by the ICRP in order to optimize the protection of workers against ionizing radiations. The Committee understands from the above that the Government is obliged to review the maximum permissible dose limits established in the light of the current knowledge in order to comply with the dose limits adopted by the ICRP in 1990. In this respect, it notes again the Government’s indication that a draft law is being prepared following the new dose limits adopted by the ICRP in 1990. The Committee hopes that the draft law will be adopted in the near future reflecting the current dose limits recommended by the ICRP concerning exposure to ionizing radiations.

5. Article 7, paragraph 1(a). Pursuant to article 55(a) of resolution No. 488/90, the dose limits for workers aged over 18 and who are directly engaged in radiation work is 50 mSv per year. The Committee recalls that the annual dose limit established by the ICRP for this category of workers is 20 mSv. The Committee accordingly hopes that the new draft law will be adopted in the near future and comply with the dose limit established by the ICRP which also served as a basis for the International Safety Standards of 1994.

6. Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the extracts of inspection reports which have been supplied with the Government’s report, as well as the analysis of the results received by measurements carried out with dosemeters in order to supervise exposure to ionizing radiations of personnel employed at the "Centro de Imágenes Golden Center". The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the practical application of the Convention in the country.

The Committee expresses its deep concern on the serious situation shown in its previous comments, as well as the absence of new information. The Committee urges the Government to make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.