WRITTEN QUESTION E-3051/02 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Increased cancer risk from above-ground electricity supply cables.
Date: 2002-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cancer, electric cable, electromagnetic interference, energy transport, health policy, health risk, motherhood

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/157

(2003/C 110 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3051/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 October 2002)

Subject: Increased cancer risk from above-ground electricity supply cables

An extensive long-term study by the California Public Utilities Commission in the San Francisco area has
shown that people who have frequently been exposed to electromagnetic fields (because they live directly
beneath high-voltage electricity supply cables, or owing to the proximity of electrical apparatus) run a
significantly higher risk of contracting cancer. Pregnant women are at higher risk of miscarriage.

Is the Commission aware of the above findings, are they equivalent to those of the European Union, and
what policy conclusions for the Union does it draw from them?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 2002)

The Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) is aware of the long-term
study carried out by the California Public Utilities Commission. To date, this study has not been completely
published and accordingly, the Committee has considered only the part of the study that has been
published after referee’s revision. These findings do not change the CSTEE conclusion’s regarding the
suspected relationship between exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Fields (ELF) and cancer. The
Commission will refer the finalised study report to the Committee for assessment as soon as it becomes
available.

In conclusion, in both opinions published on 30 October 2001 and 24 September 2002 the Committee
has confirmed the validity of the Council Recommendation (1) limits which covers all frequencies from O
Herz to 300 GigaHerz and therefore includes the emissions from high voltage power lines.

Nevertheless the Commission follows actively the health risk assessment conducted by the WHO on
electromagnetic fields. Field results should be available by 2004 and the Commission would react to any
scientific evidence not taken into consideration.

(1) 1999/519/EC: Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to

electromagnetic fiels (0 Hz to 300 GHz), OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(2003/C 110 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3069/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(25 October 2002)

Subject: Counterfeiting of Italian trademarked goods

In recent years the counterfeiting of Italian products has attained frightening proportions. Today it is the
counterfeiting of capital goods that is doing the most damage to the ‘Made in Italy’ market, not least as a
result of globalisation. This phenomenon, which at first afflicted consumer goods, is liable to drive out of
business many Italian companies, which have been forced to invest ever larger sums in technological
innovation in order to withstand this competition by producing increasingly complex and sophisticated
equipment. This is extremely costly for those companies, who have seen their profits shrink and have lost
market share.

It is becoming increasingly common to find counterfeit products on the market that cost drastically less
than the originals because they have been produced using substandard raw materials and cheap labour,
often without social protection.