WRITTEN QUESTION E-0327/00

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: Health implications of mobile telephony transmission units

In certain parts of Spain the mobile telephone companies operating in the country are installing transmission units in an anarchic fashion and with total disregard for the environment and for aesthetic, landscape, safety and public health considerations. Their activities are not covered by any specific rules governing the terms and conditions relating to the installation of the infrastructure associated with such units (although there are rules relating to the automatic mobile telephony service and the government requirement for infrastructure to be shared for public interest, safety or environmental reasons). The decision to allow such units to be installed is often entirely at the discretion of the local government official responsible for such matters in the area concerned, although no study may have been carried out into the impact on the environment or on public health and, in many cases, an installation licence may not have been issued.

At Community level (see the Commission's replies to Written Questions Nos 274/95(1) 3142/95(2) 737/96(3) and 2304/96(4) relating to mobile telephony transmission units and the harmful effects which emissions of non-ionising radiation given off by such units may have on human health) the Commission undertook to have a study on the matter carried out by experts. The harmful effects which such units may have on human health have already been examined by the World Health Organisation. Is the Commission intending to introduce Community rules governing the siting of GSM mobile telephone transmission stations? Can the Commission demand that Spain carry out studies and draw up rules concerning the effects which the installation of mobile telephone networks may have on the environment and on public health?

(1) OJ C 179, 13.7.1995, p. 11.

(2) OJ C 137, 8.5.1996, p. 3.

(3) OJ C 217, 26.7.1996, p. 13.

(4) OJ C 60, 26.2.1997, p. 140.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

On 12 July 1999, acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EC on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (O Hz to 300 GHz)(1). This text contributes to ensuring a high level of health protection for all European citizens as far as possible. The text of the Recommendation does not refer to any specific appliances. It covers all sources of non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony systems.

The Council and the Parliament have also adopted a Directive on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (the R&TTE Directive(2)). This lays down the requirements that radio transmitters need to meet in order to be placed on the market and be operated, i.e. the requirement that products should be safe and not endanger health when used for their intended purpose. It envisages that Member States may restrict operation for health reasons, e.g. by

imposing certain minimum distances between the transmitter and the public. This Directive does not lay down any requirements on local environmental impact of installations of base stations for mobile telephones which remain a responsibility of Member States.

To facilitate operation of the low voltage Directive 73/23/EE(3) 3 (LVD) and the R&TTE Directive, the Commission mandates the European standardisation bodies (the European committee for standardisation (CEN), the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation (Cenelec) and the European telecommunications standard institute (ETSI)) to draw up European harmonised standards covering safety aspects of electromagnetic fields (0 hertz (Hz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz) generated by products, in accordance with basic restrictions and reference levels of Recommendation 1999/519/EC regarding human health protection. Those standards will have to be transposed into national standards and conflicting national standards will have to be withdrawn.

It will then be possible to perform measurements of environmental fields which, should they show that the population is exposed to values higher than those recommended, will lead to technical adaptation measures to avoid any adverse impact on public health and the environment due to exposure to any source of non-ionising radiation.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(2) Directive 1999/5/EC of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (OJ L 91, 7.4.1999).

(3) Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ L 77, 26.3.1973) as amended.