WRITTEN QUESTION P-0809/04 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Terrestrial trunked radio masts.
Date: 2004-03-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, electromagnetic interference, health risk, public health, transmission network

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/675

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2004)

The Commission has found no evidence that the project quoted by the Honourable Member has been
co-financed by Structural Funds through the current 2000-2006 Objective 2 Programme for Bavaria.
The Bavarian authorities responsible for the management of the projects supported by the programme are
not aware of a request in this respect. There is no evidence that any other EU aid instrument available to
Bavarian authorities has been involved.

Any submission for obtaining funds has to be addressed to the designated managing authority in Bavaria
responsible for the above programme.

Mr. Cataffo has come to the attention of the Commission on a previous occasion as a result of Written
Question E-2566/03 submitted by the Honourable Member (1).

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004.

(2004/C 84 E/0762)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0809/04

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 March 2004)

Subject: Terrestrial trunked radio masts

The Commission, in its implementation report on Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC (1),
limiting
public exposure to electromagnetic fields (0Hz to 300 GHz), Section 8.3, states that ‘recent findings in the
extremely low frequency area … have to be evaluated.’ It further states that the Commission will review its
recommendations ‘taking into account the latest scientific data and advice.’

TETRA is being introduced in the UK to serve the police and emergency services. It operates at ultra high
frequency (395 Mhz) pulses of around 17,6Hz, a frequency which has been shown as causing damage to
the nervous and immune systems in human beings. The UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones
in their Government-commissioned study of 2000, the Stewart Report, said that modulation around the
frequency of 16Hz ‘should be avoided’ because of possible health impacts.

In spite of this, 3 000 masts are being erected across the UK, 700 in my constituency (Scotland) amidst
growing public concern that the system has never been properly evaluated on health grounds. Meanwhile
amongst police personnel who are already using the system, symptoms associated with exposure to
mobile-communications-type radiation levels such as sleep disruption, migraine headaches and so on are
already being reported.

The regulations governing public exposure to electromagnetic fields were fixed prior to the introduction of
TETRA. In light of its own report on the implementation of Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC,
would the Commission agree that, in the interests of public health, a moratorium be placed on further
development of this system until a proper evaluation of health risks has been carried out?

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

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 2004)

On 12 July 1999 the Council adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EC limiting the exposure of the general
public to non-ionising radiation with the view of protecting human health in a frequency range of 0 Herz
(Hz) to 300 Gigaherz (Ghz). This also covers the frequencies mentioned by the Honourable Member.

C 84 E/676

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Scientific Committee on Toxicology-Ecotoxicology and the Environment confirmed on 30 November
2001 that ‘the additional information which has become available on carcinogenic and other non-thermal
effects of radio frequency and microwave radiation frequencies in the last years does not justify a revision
of the exposure limits set by the Commission’. This view was generally supported in a conference on
mobile communication in January 2004 (1) and by a series of expert reports recently produced in some
Member States.

An implementation report on the Council Recommendation was published in March 2003 focusing on
measures taken in Member States. This report states in paragraph 8.3 that some recent findings in the
extremely low frequency area have to be further evaluated. This refers in particular to extreme low
frequency (ELF) magnetic fields at power frequencies (50/60 Hz) originating from power lines.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently conducting a major assessment relating to EMF, both
in the low and radio frequency range. The Commission is following closely this project. It is to be expected
that the outcome of this work will provide key elements to determine eventual further steps.

Considerable research work has been and continues to be undertaken to investigate possible long term
effects on health of exposure to electromagnetic fields. The Commission is following closely any new
scientific results in the domain to react, if necessary, to any new scientific evidence not taken to date into
consideration. Once finalised (2004-2006),
the
5th Framework Programme for Research (FP5) should provide an important
to address the
knowledge gap and will also contribute to the related activities of the WHO.

the projects supported by the Community under

input

In addition, under the 6th Framework Programme, the new Coordination Action on EMF (EMF-NET) aimed
at improving the co-ordination of the results of the research activities related to the biological effects of
electromagnetic fields has just started (2004-2008). The consortium involves all the co-ordinators of the
EU (FP5) funded active projects, and of major research projects at national level (Germany, Greece, France,
Italy, Finland, United Kingdom, Hungary). In addition, it links to other international activities, such as
COST 281 Action, WHO EMF activities, associations of industries and manufacturers, regulatory bodies,
‘inter alia’, review European and
scientific associations, and trade union associations. This network will,
national EMF studies and support informed decision making for regulation and risk communication by
health and environmental authorities, consumer associations and individuals.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/rtte/emfworkshop/index.htm

(2004/C 84 E/0763)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0812/04

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: Infringement of European legislation on phytosanitary products in the ‘Abac’ case (Valencia)

It was recently reported in Valencia that the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture was allegedly involved in the
‘Fabra’ case, in which the president of the Castellón regional government apparently asked the Ministry
that the insecticide ‘Abac’ (based on abamectin), marketed by the company Naranjax, be granted marketing
authorisation without having passed the relevant toxicity tests. It emerges that this phytosanitary product
had been refused authorisation three times before the intervention of the president of the regional
government. In actual fact other products with exactly the same composition manufactured under other
names have never obtained authorisation from the Ministry because they exceed the toxicity limits.
Furthermore, according to information revealed by the judicial process, it appears that ‘Abac’ began to be
sold before it had even received the disputed authorisation, which constitutes a twofold irregularity, since
the product was on sale for a certain period of time without a licence and without the relevant tests being
carried out.