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<p>Sheep on restricted farms are to be monitored during the summers of 2010 and 2011 when radiocaesium activity concentrations are at their peak. A probabilistic dose model will be developed using the monitoring data to estimate the distribution of annual effective dose in millisieverts per year (mSv/y) to a Representative Person. The Representative Person corresponds to a more highly exposed consumer of sheep meat from a restricted farm, whose habits are realistic of what people encounter in their day to day life. A dose to the Representative Person will be calculated for each monitored farm, to give a range of doses representative of all restricted farms. Doses to consumers with different characteristics will also be modelled to demonstrate a robust understanding of doses if control measures were to be removed.</p>
<p>Doses will be compared to EU limits and guidance levels from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Whether Mark and Release control measures still reduce consumer doses will also be assessed. </p>
<p>Background: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) manages restrictions on the movement, sale and slaughter of sheep on farms in North Wales and in Cumbria, which remain affected by radiocaesium fallout from the Chernobyl accident. The restrictions are enforced using powers under the Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA) 1985. A live sheep monitoring programme, known as ‘Mark and Release’, operates to ensure that sheep exceeding 1,000 Bq/kg of radiocaesium do not enter the food chain.</p>
<p>The aim of this project is to assess the levels of radiocaesium in sheep within the restricted areas and the potential consumer doses if control measures were to be lifted. The assessment will form the evidence base for a public consultation on a policy change in November 2011. </p>