WRITTEN QUESTION P-0567/04 by Marie-Arlette Carlotti (PSE) to the Commission. Limitation of public exposure to electromagnetic fields.
Date: 2004-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: amendment of a law, electromagnetic interference, non-ionising radiation, product safety, public health, radiation protection, report, research project, scientific report, telecommunications equipment

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

another purpose (e.g. experimental craft, racing boats, former commercial boats)’ should therefore be read
as a complementary clarification on the Directive’s scope of application and not as an extension of it.

Furthermore, the statement referred to by the Honourable Member that: ‘the Directive does not contain
any retrospective provisions and, as such, existing boats in service (in use) in the EEA lie outside of the
Directive wherever they were built’ should be read as meaning existing recreational craft. Hence this
absence of retrospective provisions cannot be invoked for existing former commercial boats whose original
intended use is changed into leisure purposes after the date of entry into application of the Directive.

Post construction certification is not explicitly covered by the currently applicable version of
the
Recreational Craft Directive (i.e. Directive 94/25/EC). However, post construction assessment is at the
present time achieved through a commonly agreed approach between notified bodies, which is laid down
in Chapter I of their Recreational Craft Sectoral Group (RSG) Guidelines. As from 1 January 2005, post
construction assessment will be covered by the Directive through the entry into application of the
amending provisions of Article 8a introduced with Directive 2003/44/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council of 16 June 2003 amending Directive 94/25/EC (1).

(1) OJ L 214, 26.8.2003.

(2004/C 84 E/0501)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0567/04

by Marie-Arlette Carlotti (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Limitation of public exposure to electromagnetic fields

(19 February 2004)

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) set up a Community framework with regard to
exposure to electromagnetic fields, to provide protection in areas where members of the public spend
significant time in relation to the effects of these fields.

One point of the recommendation provides for revision in the light of progress in scientific assessment of
the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields and on the basis of national reports to be prepared after a
period of three years and a Commission report prepared within five years.

1.
Can the Commission state the current situation regarding the report that it is due to present before
12 July 2004 and state progress in implementing the recommendation, on the basis of information
forwarded in the Member States’ reports?

2.
Does the Commission envisage proposing a specific directive on electromagnetic contamination, to
establish a Community framework with a high level of protection against public exposure to electrom-
agnetic fields, in accordance with the precautionary principle with regard to environmental protection and
public health?

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

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2004)

As mentioned by the Honourable Member, on 12 July 1999, the Council adopted Recommendation 1999/
519/EEC limiting the exposure of the general public to non-ionising radiation with a view of protecting
human health in a frequency range of 0 Herz (Hz) to 300 Giga Herz (GHz).

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the
In response to the continuing public concern and the requirements of
Commission asked the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment in 2001 to
provide an up-dated opinion on this matter. The Committee confirmed in its opinion of 30 October 2001
that the additional information that had become available in recent years did not justify a revision of the
exposure limits set in the Council Recommendation and that there was insufficient scientific evidence to
propose an alternative. In addition, the Commission published an implementation report concerning the
Recommendation in March 2003, covering measures taken in the Member States. The overall picture
emerging is that most Member States have implemented measures in line with the Council Recom-
mendation. Some of the Member States have chosen stricter limits or do not cover the whole frequency
range.

the Recommendation,

In addition, Community legislation governing radio products, including mobile telephone masts, obliges
manufacturers to ensure that they are safe. In particular, Article 3(1)(a) of 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), also obliges manufacturers to ensure that
their products do not have an adverse effect on health when used for their intended purpose. Within the
context of this Directive and the Council Recommendation, the Commission is also working towards the
establishment of European standards of compliance with the recommended basic restrictions. This is
currently done by Cenelec, the European standardisation organisation for electrical equipment. A standard
already exists for the measurement of
the specific absorption rate related to human exposure to
electromagnetic fields (EMF) from mobile phones (EN 50361).

Finally, considerable research work has been and continues to be undertaken to investigate possible long
term effects on health of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Three major studies have been published
recently: (a) United Kingdom Independent Advisory Group on Non Ionizing Radiation (January 2004);
(b) Health Council of
(c) Swedish Radiation Protection Authorities
(December 2003).

the Netherlands (January 2004);

The three studies conclude that there is no conclusive evidence of other than thermal effects of EMF. This
was also confirmed in a conference, which was recently held on the matter (http://europa.eu.int/comm/
enterprise/rtte/emfworkshop/index.htm). The World Health Organisation is currently conducting a major
the Commission funds research projects (Fifth Framework
assessment relating to EMF.
Programme (FP) and 6th FP) on the biological and health effects of EMF (Directorate General Research and
Technological Development DG RTD) and other support action programmes such as COST 281 (DG
Information Society (INFSO)) that is contributing to the coordination and harmonisation of national
research programmes investigating the possible health implications of EMF. It is to be expected that the
outcome of this research work will provide key elements to determine eventual further steps.

In addition,

The Commission therefore judges premature any operational decision before this project is completed.

The Commission’s 2000 Communication on the precautionary principle (2) sets out the framework for its
application in the Community context.

(1) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.
(2) COM(2000) 0001 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0502)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0569/04

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject: Leonardo da Vinci programme

The Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci programme is intended to help implement EU vocational training
policy. The European Union needs to ensure its citizens are better prepared for entry into the job market