WRITTEN QUESTION E-2437/00 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Dangers posed by electromagnetic fields.
Date: 2000-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, electromagnetic interference, health control, health risk, medical research, public health, radiation protection, scientific research

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/95

Is the Commission aware of these incidents?

Will it check that all safety standards have been met?

(1) OJ L 384, 31.12.1982, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 344, 7.12.1983, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 140, 30.5.1997, p. 9.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the incidents mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and
flora by regulating trade therein, and Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97 of 26 May 1997, laying
down detailed rules concerning the implementation of the above Council Regulation, have replaced
respectively Council Regulation (EEC) No 3626/82 of 3 December 1982 on the implementation in the
Community of the Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3418/83 of 28 November 1983 laying down provisions for the uniform
issue and use of the documents required for the implementation in the Community of the Convention on
international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

The dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a species included in Annex A of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97
which means that it may not be imported for commercial purposes, but in the case of dolphinaria, or
zoos, a derogation under Article 8(3)(g) may be invoked, i.e. that import may take place if intended for
research or education aimed at the preservation or conservation of the species. Moreover, the Regulation
stipulates that import can only take place if the scientific authority of the Member State concerned is
satisfied that the intended accommodation for a live specimen at the place of destination is adequately
equipped to conserve and care for it properly.

However, the keeping and treatment of live animals, dolphins in dolphinaria in this case, falls within the
competence of the individual Member States. Consequently, the Commission is not in a position to control
any safety standards.

(2001/C 113 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2437/00

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Subject: Dangers posed by electromagnetic fields

The European Parliament recently dealt with the question of the risks posed by electromagnetic radiation
in the Tamino report on a proposal for a Council recommendation on setting limits for exposure of the
public to electromagnetic fields. Parliament supported the adoption of a common framework in this field
and stressed the need for more extensive research into the effects on health of electromagnetic fields and
the urgent need for a wide-ranging and continuing campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of
exposure.

In response to this position, only some Member States have taken steps to legislate in this field by
introducing framework laws. There is concern among the population, together with a desire for knowledge
and for precise rules to provide safeguards against the risk of prolonged exposure to electromagnetic
radiation and the effects this might have.

In the light of the above, does the Commission not think it necessary to call on the Member States which
have been slow to act and urge them to adopt the appropriate legislative provisions on the basis of the
recommendation?

C 113 E/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2000)

the Commission would point out that Council
In response to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns,
Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to
electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) (1)
invites Member States to adopt a framework of basic
restrictions and reference levels, taking Annex I, point 3 of the Recommendation as a basis and aiming
to obtain respect of the basic restrictions given in Annex II for public exposure. The Commission will be
publishing a report on the impementation of this text in 2001.

The Council Recommendation also invites the Commission to work towards the establishment of European
standards. In this context, the Commission has drafted a standardisation mandate regarding electromag-
netic fields (EMF), covering all products, which falls within the framework of the low voltage Directive (2)
and the radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment Directive (3). Since the mandate
relates to new approach directives, the European harmonised standards produced will give presumption of
conformity with the essential requirements of the directives and all standards in Member States conflicting
with the harmonised standards have to be withdrawn.

Compliance of a product with the emission limits given in the harmonised standards is intended to ensure
that the measured EMF exposure of the human body originating from this apparatus will not, under
normal use, exceed the limits given in the Council Recommendation. So far as safety of relevant products
is concerned, there would be no need for Member States to introduce further regulation in the area of
products covered by the two directives, since transposition of these directives into national law already
covers it.

The Council Recommendation also invites the Commission to encourage research into the long and short-
term effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Initial research in this area was carried out during the
Third and Fourth Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development (R&D). Although
none of the research (covering possible heat effects and cellular metabolic disturbances due to the various
types of electromagnetic fields) yielded evidence of harmful effects on health, further results are required in
order to set the public(cid:146)s concerns fully to rest. Consequently, electromagnetic radiation is specifically
included in the Fifth Framework Programme, within the work programme for key action 4 (Environment
and health) of theme 1 (Quality of life and management of living resources). In the context of the 1999
call for proposals, five proposals were selected, involving funding to the tune of approximately 9 million
euro. These projects commenced at the start of this year and should bear fruit three years hence.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(2) 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 (OJ L 77, 26.3.1973).

(3) Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommu-

nications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (OJ L 91, 7.4.1999).

(2001/C 113 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2440/00

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

(19 July 2000)

Subject: European subsidy rejected

In August 1999, the Galician Women Shellfish Dealers(cid:146) Association (Agamar) asked for a subsidy from the
Xunta de Galiza(cid:146)s Department of Fisheries, Shellfish and Aquaculture, as part of
its programmed
development of the Community PESCA initiative, with particular reference to the section covering creation
of jobs for women. The scheme submitted by the shellfish dealers was to cultivate quick-growing (cid:145)Japanese
mussels(cid:146), rotating the crops and reinvesting the profit in (cid:145)fresh seed(cid:146).