29 August 2008 - 11H56
Radioactive leak forces restrictions on Belgium region
A Belgium nuclear medicine institute has confirmed that a radioactive leak in the region of Fleurus has forced authorities to restrict consumption of milk and vegetables in a five-kilometre radius around the site.
Belgian authorities have restricted consumption of vegetables and milk produced near a nuclear medicine institute in Fleurus after a leakage of radioactive iodine, the European Commission said on Friday.
"Belgian authorities ... have now decided to implement protective actions, in particular restrictions on the consumption of local food produce (vegetables and milk), up to a distance of 5 km (sector northeast)," the European Union executive said in a statement.
The Belgian nuclear control agency said on Thursday that the incident, which took place in southern Belgium last weekend, was "serious" and rated it three out of seven based on the International Nuclear Incident Scale (INES).
The measures to restrict consumption were taken after samples of local grass showed higher-than-expected contamination.
Belgian authorities have drawn heavy criticism for the handling of the crisis.
"What do we do with people who have eaten vegetables? Why wait so many days before announcing measures?" the Belga news agency quoted Green member of parliament Jean-Marc Nollet as saying. Nollet asked for an independent investigation.
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