WRITTEN QUESTION E-2837/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Limiting the electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones through consumer information.
Date: 2000-09-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community certification, cancer, consumer information, health risk, mobile phone, non-ionising radiation, precautionary principle, product safety, telecommunications industry

C 136 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

The Commission is aware of the difficulties that the retail sector is facing with respect to payment
3.
fraud, especially for on-line sales. One of the objectives of the fraud prevention communication is to
promote a high level of security of on-line payment systems, which will better protect consumers and
merchants alike.

(1) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997.

(2001/C 136 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2837/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Subject: Limiting the electromagnetic radiation of mobile phones through consumer information

1.
Is the Commission aware of the research carried out by Dr George Carlo in1999 on behalf of the
American telecommunications industry into the link between the use of mobile phones and radiation in
the vicinity of mobile phones and sleeplessness, headaches, a rare form of brain cancer with tumours on
the outside of the head, benign tumours around the auditory nerve and damage to human DNA (cid:129)
research which unfortunately, because of lack of further cooperation with the industry, could not be
completed?

Is the Commission aware that the United States has obliged manufacturers of mobile phones, with
2.
effect from 1 August 2000, to indicate on the side of their phones the strength of the electromagnetic
radiation in order to inform consumers of the possible risks and to enable them to choose a phone with
the lowest radiation?

Until there is tangible evidence that mobile phones present no risk whatsoever to human health, is
3.
the Commission prepared, in accordance with the precautionary principle (prevention is better than the
cure), to introduce in the European Union in the near future measures similar to those in the US, which
would result in the industry being encouraged to supply phones with the lowest possible radiation value?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2000)

1.
The Honourable Member refers to work done in the United States on the health effects of using
mobile phones which has not been validated scientifically. The Commission would point out that, within
the framework of the provisions of the Treaty concerning health protection, it is working to develop an
effective policy for protecting people(cid:146)s health. Accordingly, it is supporting a number of studies aimed at
further improving knowledge of the potential and actual health effects arising from the use of electro-
magnetic radiation. These studies should in particular take account of any advances in scientific knowledge
in this field which have been scientifically validated.

Apart from this, the (cid:145)Quality of Life (cid:129) Key Action 4 (cid:129) Environment and Health(cid:146) programme under the
Fifth Framework Programme of research and technological development has made the health effects of
mobile phones one of its priorities. The projects, for which total funding of € 9 million is being provided,
are concerned in particular with the potential risk of cancer caused by exposure to electromagnetic
radiation from mobile phones.

The Commission has, in the context of the low voltage Directive (1) and the radio equipment and
2.
telecommunications terminal equipment Directive (2), drafted a mandate for the European standardisation
organisation Cenelec, asking for European harmonised standards to ensure conformity with Council
Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 (3) while taking due account of standardisation at
international
level and the technical procedures customary in this field. These standards will be a
considerable help in reassuring the public that mobile phones placed on the market comply with the
exposure levels recommended in order to protect their health.

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/105

The levels of health protection set out in Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC are determined by
3.
applying a safety factor to the limit values for exposure to radiation. Thus, in keeping with a precautionary
approach, they can encompass the long-term effects about which there may still be some scientific
uncertainty. The Commission will remain especially vigilant, examine all new scientific evidence, and take
any new measures (cid:129) including the revision of the Recommendation before its planned update in 2004 (cid:129)
in consultation with the Scientific Steering Committee.

(1) 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.

(2) Council 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) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(2001/C 136 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2838/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 September 2000)

Subject: Quarantine rules for exported pigs possibly infected with swine fever

As a result of swine fever in England, in early August the Dutch government imposed a ban on imports of
pigs from England. Because of the long incubation period it is not yet known how many of the imported
pigs are infected. Accordingly, the LTO, the farmers(cid:146) organisation in the Netherlands, has proposed that
imported pigs be kept for four weeks in quarantine before being sent to farms in the Netherlands.

Can the Commission confirm the statement

from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature
1.
Management and Fisheries, that the European Union does not allow the Dutch government to impose a
quarantine obligation on importers?

2. What are the Commission(cid:146)s reasons for preventing quarantine arrangements?

3.
Does the Commission share the view that action must be taken to prevent European rules resulting
in unexpected and undesirable consequences and accordingly being regarded as pointless and harmful by
the public?

4. What does the Commission intend to do to enable Member States of the European Union to
introduce a quarantine scheme for animals suspected of carrying a disease and, in general, to ensure that in
such cases European rules do not have an adverse effect?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2000)

1.
The emergency measures that may be enforced in case of occurrence of an animal disease in the
Community are laid down in Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 20 June 1990, concerning veterinary and
zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view
to the completion of the internal market (1).

The Member State of dispatch as well as the Member State of destination of commodities such as animals
or animal products, which may pose a risk for public or animal health, may take the measures necessary
to prevent any spread of disease, which may include quarantine of the animals, in accordance with the
provisions of this Directive.