WRITTEN QUESTION E-2496/01 by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Electromagnetic field.
Date: 2001-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, blood disease, child, electromagnetic interference, public health

C 93 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

(2002/C 93 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2496/01

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(14 September 2001)

Subject: Electromagnetic field

Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC (1) of 12 July 1999, on the limitation of exposure of the general
public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz), to provide a high level of health protection proposed
that reference levels be respected by which that objective would be achieved. For the frequency of 50 Hz,
used in the transport and distribution of electricity, magnetic flux density should never exceed 100 µT
(100 microteslas).

Many scientists regard this value as far too high, believing that the precautionary principle would require a
maximum level of 0.2 µT. The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) recently wound up its
consideration of the problem, on the basis of group analyses of original data from a number of properly
carried out studies, by concluding that there was a statistically significant and coinciding link between
childhood leukaemia and exposure to household ELF magnetic fields higher than 0.4 µT.

In fact the risk to a child constantly exposed to a field of 0.4 µT would be double. This new finding
coming from a body of uncontested scientific authority completely invalidates the Council’s recom-
mendation as regards public exposure to a type of pollution which is widely present in our everyday
environment. It also undermines the very approach in the present text, which ignores the precautionary
principle and confines itself to taking into account adverse effects on health. Does the Council intend to
amend its 1999 document without delay, in view of the possible implications for the quality of life of a
large proportion of the population of Europe?

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999, p. 59.

Reply

(10 December 2001)

Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC (1) of 12 July 1999, on the limitation of exposure of the general
public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) specifically invites the Commission to keep the matters
covered by the Recommendation under review, with a view to its revision and updating, taking into
account possible effects which are currently the object of research,
including relevant aspects of
precaution, and to prepare a report within five years which takes into account the reports of the Member
States and the latest scientific data and advice. The Council stands ready to consider any proposal which
the Commission may submit to amend the 1999 Recommendation in the light of the latest scientific data
and advice.

The Honourable Member will also be aware that Article 249 of
the EC Treaty clearly states that
Recommendations have no binding force. Moreover, the Recommendation’s preamble explicitly states that
Member States may, in accordance with the Treaty, provide for a higher level of protection than that set
out in the Recommendation.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999, p. 59.

(2002/C 93 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2497/01

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(13 September 2001)

Subject: National operational programme (NOP) and SMEs

The Italian Minister for the productive sector recently announced that a specific measure under the
Enterprise NOP was to be used to ensure that SMEs received adequate guidance.