WRITTEN QUESTION P-3391/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(6 December 2001)

Subject: Scientific opinion on electromagnetic pollution

In his answer to my Written Question E-1355/01(1) on the growth in electromagnetic pollution, Commissioner Byrne announced that:

In the face of the very rapid development of these systems and the fears to which they give rise in terms of the health of exposed people, the Commission has decided to take all the necessary precautionary measures. It has therefore asked the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment, attached to the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection, to reexamine the matter and deliver, in autumn 2001, a new scientific opinion on the risks to human health caused by exposure and on adequate protective measures.

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in the Scientific Committee's work on this matter? When and how will the conclusions of this report be made public?

If a draft report already exists from which conclusions can be drawn, what specific measures is the Commission preparing in order to combat growing electromagnetic pollution, going beyond the scope of Directives 1999/5/EC(2) and 73/23/EEC(3) and in the light of the rapid scientific progress being made in the manufacture of this type of equipment, in order to guarantee its safe use?

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 131.

(2) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999, p. 10.

(3) OJ L 77, 26.3.1973, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2002)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) adopted an opinion on the matter under reference at the occasion of its 27th plenary meeting, on 30 October 2001. The text of the opinion is available on the Europa website(1). The CSTEE has estimated in its conclusions that on the basis of the information available at the time the scientific evidence is insufficient to propose alternatives to the limits set up by the 12th July Council Recommendation limiting the exposure of general public to non-ionising radiation. The Commission continues to co-operate with the World Health Organisation which is engaged with the Commission in a major epidemiological study on health effects of electromagnetic fields.

With regard to safety standards under 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 and Council Directive 73/23/EEC of

19 February 1973 on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits, the Commission would like to draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that a first set of standards, covering mobile telephones, low power radio transmitters and radio frequency identification devices (e.g. anti-theft ports) have been published. Standards for the antennas are in the final stage of development. Their publication is foreseen for the middle of 2002. Information on these harmonised standards is available on the Europa website(2).

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/sct/outcome_en.html.

(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/rtte.