WRITTEN QUESTION E-1376/02 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. Electromagnetic fields.
Date: 2002-05-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cenelec, European standard, consumer protection, electromagnetic interference, harmonisation of standards, public health, telecommunications equipment

C 277 E/194

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Substances and Precursors was adopted in March 1999, and in Malta, whose Dangerous Drugs Ordinance
provides the framework for the implementation of the Directive. In the case of Turkey, Law No 2313 on
Control of Narcotic of 1933 was amended in 1996 by Law No 4208 to provide that the production,
import, export, transfer, possession, purchase and sale of substances listed in Tables I and II annexed to the
1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
requires the permission of the Ministry of Health; failure to obtain the permission is a criminal offence.

(2002/C 277 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1376/02

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(14 May 2002)

Subject: Electromagnetic fields

Can the Commission confirm that the European standard of compliance on base stations is expected to be
published by July 2002 and give assurances as to whether this timetable will be met? Could the
Commission reiterate that the standard will define the conditions for putting antennas into service, taking
into account other existing installations and their emissions?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2002)

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 (1)
(hereafter
R & TTE Directive) governing radio equipment (including mobile telephone masts) obliges manufacturers to
ensure that they are safe.

In particular, Article 3.1.a of the Directive provides a general obligation for manufacturers to protect the
health of the user and of any other person from risks arising from radio equipment when used for their
intended purpose. Article 7.2 of the same Directive enables national authorities to impose restrictions on
the intended use of radio equipment for the purpose of protecting public health. This may include the
observation of minimum distances between telephone masts and the public.

Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 (2) provides guidance on the safety levels to be
respected. This recommendation invites Member States to limit the exposure of the general public to
electromagnetic fields between 0 Hz and 300 GHz to certain levels. The basic restrictions and reference
levels included in the Recommendation aim to ensure users are provided with a high level of protection
against potential acute and long-term that effects of non-ionising radiation emitted by radio equipment.

The Commission mandated the European Standardisation Organisations (mandate M/305) to ensure that
devices, which are placed on the market and/or put into service, comply with the R & TTE Directive.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (Cenelec) has responded to this request and has a
number of standards relating to base stations in its work programme.

In particular, Cenelec is developing the following standards:

? Harmonised standards covering the placing on the market of base station products. These standards
ensure that the requirements on these products are harmonised within the Community. They ensure
that, when installed in isolation, a base station will, in the safety zone declared by the manufacturer,
not expose the public (or workers) to levels above those recommended by the Council or otherwise
regulated. A positive vote on this standard was finalised on 24 May 2002.

? A harmonised standard covering the putting into service of base stations when there are also other
sources of exposure. This standard will enable the network operator to determine how the safety zone
around a base station should be extended as a result of these other sources. The technical draft on this
standard will be completed in September 2002, after which the adoption process will take about six
months;

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/195

? A harmonised standard on the ‘in-situ’ measurement of exposure levels. This standard, for which the
technical work is to be completed before the end of 2002, will provide for a harmonised method to
measure real-life exposure in the field. Its main use will be for public authorities to provide an
accurate response to citizens who are concerned about levels of exposure in their houses, workplaces
etc.

? The attention of the Honourable Member is further drawn to the request of the Commission to the
Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Eco-toxicity and the Environment to provide an opinion on the
matter in which it confirmed the limits recommended by the Council. The text of that opinion is
available on the Europa website (3).

(1) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.
(2) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(3)

Implementation Report on the Council Recommendation limiting the public exposure to electromagnetic fields
(0 Hz to 300 GHz) see http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/sct/outcome_en.html.

(2002/C 277 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1380/02

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 May 2002)

Subject: Importing of foodstuffs and food ingredients from third countries

Article 9 of Directive 1999/2/EC (1) states inter alia that a foodstuff treated with ionising radiation may not
be imported from a third country unless it was treated in an irradiation facility approved by the
Community and appearing on a list drawn up by the Commission.

Can the Commission provide the list of these facilities?

Also, Brazil allows irradiation of almost all foodstuffs, including fruit. Irradiation of oranges is allowed
there to increase the length of time during which they can be stored before being sold. In addition, fruit
juices, fruit juice concentrates and fruit pulp can be irradiated to check for bacterial contamination.

In view of the fact that many types of orange juice present on the European market are reconstituted from
concentrates and pulp from Brazil and that it is difficult, if not impossible, to detect whether a fruit juice
has been irradiated, how can one be sure that the fruit juices present on EU markets have not undergone
such treatment?

(1) OJ L 66, 13.3.1999, p. 16.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2002)

According to Article 9(1), third indent, of Directive 1999/2/EC of the Parliament and the Council on the
approximation of the laws of Member States concerning foods and food ingredients treated with ionising
radiation, irradiated food may not be imported from a third country unless it was treated in an irradiation
facility approved by the Community. So far, irradiation facilities in South Africa and Hungary have applied
for approval. The Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission has inspected the facilities and examined
the control capacity of the competent authorities in these countries. The reports are available on the
following web site of Directorate General (DG) Health and Consumer Protection of the Commission: http://
europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/inspections/fi/reports/index_en.html

After appropriate follow-up by the facilities and competent authorities to the recommendations of the
Food and Veterinary Office, the Commission will propose formal approval of the facilities.