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(2004/C 84 E/0577)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3042/03

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject:   Installation of telecommunications masts

The rapid expansion in telecommunications has created a greater need for masts. Has the European Commission issued any guidelines on the siting of such masts, given the heightened awareness of the possible health risks? If not, is the European Commission aware of any guidelines issued by Member States?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 2003)

The siting of mobile phone masts is an issue, which as mentioned by the Honourable Member, is giving rise to further public concern. The Commission has already received several parliamentary questions on this topic (e.g. E-l155/03 by Mr Mauro and Mr Gargani (1), E-2821/02 by Mr Maaten (2), E-2900/02 by Mrs Breyer (3) and E-2901/02 by Mrs Breyer (4)).

On 12 July 1999 the Council adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EEC to Member States limiting the exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields from 0 Herz (Hz) to 300 Gigaherz (Ghz) (5). Full adherence to the basic restrictions and reference levels included in the Recommendation ensures that users are provided with a high level of protection against both acute and long-term effects of non-ionising radiation across the whole spectrum. The limits recommended include a safety factor of 50 to cover possible long-term effects across the entire frequency range and also aims to protect against, as yet, non-documented non-thermal effects.

The opinion of the Scientific Committee on Toxicology-Ecotoxicity and the Environment on health effects associated to the exposure to electromagnetic fields published on 30 October 2001 has confirmed the validity of the Council Recommendation limits for radio frequencies and microwaves. This opinion is also in line with other national and international assessments of the scientific literature in this area.

The public perception of the risks posed by masts is at odds with measured exposure levels. The extremely rapid deployment of mobile networks over the last years, in many cases without consultation of the public, seems to be the main reason for this.

Measurements performed in various Member States, have demonstrated that the level to which the public is exposed is below the values recommended by the Council (normally by a factor of 100 to 100 000). In general the safety zone around masts is in the order of 4 (for a typical low power urban area base station) to 10 (rural area high power base station) metres in the horizontal direction and less than a metre in the vertical direction. Under normal circumstances the distance to the public is much larger. Exposure drops with the square of the distance, which explains the low exposure levels measured in practice. Exposure levels of mobile phones and for instance those close to broadcast transmitters, many of which have been in operation for many years are much higher.

The Commission is aware of local siting regulations in some Member States, which prescribe so-called ‘safety distances’ of 500 metre (m) and above. From the above one can conclude that these regulations are not based on scientific reasoning. Most Member States base their health regulations on the Council Recommendation and require masts to comply with its limits.

The European Standardisation Organisations, under mandate from the Commission, draft Harmonised European standards, which can be used to demonstrate that masts do not expose the public beyond the limits recommended by the Council. The first of these standards (EN 50385) has already been given legal effect within the framework of Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (6), which obliges manufacturers to ensure that their products do not give rise to adverse effects on health when used for their intended purpose. Further standards are under development and will standardise methods to determine the zone around base stations, within which the recommended limits would be exceeded and will standardise in-situ measurement methods.

Even though limits and standards are available, which to our best knowledge protect our citizens from potential adverse health effects, the Commission is closely following and financing research in this area and will react, if necessary, to any new scientific evidence not yet taken into consideration.

Based on the best scientific advice available, antennas for mobile communications, when installed to meet the safety levels provided in the Council Recommendation, do not give rise to health problems.

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(1)OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002.

(2)OJ C 192 E, 14.8.2003, p. 77.

(3)OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003.

(4)OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 52.

(5)OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(6)OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.

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