The Federal Environment Ministry recommends using a maximum permissible radiation exposure level for radiation contamination from ships and goods which arrive in Germany from Japan. This recommendation is issued for precautionary reasons to protect the population. There is no direct health threat for people living in Germany. This limit value is applicable to surface areas such as the outer surface of ships or of goods, but not to food or feedstuffs. The recommendation is directed towards the competent authorities, including customs and port operators. The first ships arriving from Japan after the terrible events there are expected in mid-April.
The Federal Environment Ministry and the Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) have agreed that the maximum permissible level for ships and goods should be 4 Becquerel per square centimetre (Bq/cm²). If values are below this level it can be assumed that there is no risk. Contamination of 4 Becquerel per square centimetre leads to radiation doses that are well below the internationally recommended lowest reference value for emergencies of 1 millisievert per year. Radiation below this level is considered safe. As a comparison: under normal circumstances the annual effective dose of natural radiation exposition in Germany is 2.1 millisievert.
Directly after the devastating events in Fukushima the Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) recommended that ships should avoid the vicinity of the accident and steer as wide a course as possible around the location (keeping a distance of approx. 50 nautical miles or 100 km).
Within the government, the Federal Environment Ministry is in charge of radiation protection and precautionary radiation protection. The Länder and different federal authorities are responsible for enforcement. In case of overlapping responsibilities between different portfolios – i.e. questions regarding shipping, customs or food control and inspection - measures are agreed in close cooperation between the ministries in charge. Vis-à-vis the EU Commission ministries advocate uniform standards and procedures for Europe.