WRITTEN QUESTION E-0968/04 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Electromagnetic Compliance Standard.
Date: 2004-03-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC conformity marking, European standard, competence of the Member States, electro-magnetic equipment, electromagnetic interference, harmonisation of standards

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/927

would not only be to diesel vehicles/engines but also to spark ignition engines at the low emission levels
expected from advanced technologies that will be on the market in the near future.

(1) Directive 98/69/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to measures to be
taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC, OJ L 350,
28.12.1998.

(2) Directive 1999/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on the approximation
of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate
pollutants from compression ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from
positive ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles and amending
Council Directive 88/77/EEC, OJ L 44, 16.2.2000.

(3) COM(2000) 626 final.

(2004/C 84 E/1024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0968/04

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 March 2004)

Subject: Electromagnetic Compliance Standard

the Commission clarify the remit of

1. Will
IEC61000? Is it a voluntary measure, a recommendation or one that
enforceable by law?

the European Electromagnetic Compliance Standard
is compulsory and therefore

If

2.
compliance with this standard? Is the Commission aware of any breaches of this standard?

the Commission state who holds responsibility for ensuring

is enforceable by law, will

it

3. What is the maximum limit (in volts per metre) to which a house and its residents may be exposed
under this standard?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2004)

IEC 61000 refers not to one but to a series of standards issued by the International Electrotechnical
these standards has been adopted by the European Committee for
Commission (IEC). A subset of
Electrotechnical Standardization (Cenelec) and harmonised under the Directive 89/336/EEC (1)
(EMC
Directive). For information, a summary of the relevant Cenelec standards harmonised under the EMC
Directive is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

To establish compliance with the requirements of the EMC Directive, the manufacturer or his authorised
representative has the choice between two main conformity assessment procedures. The manufacturer may
decide to apply harmonised standards or to apply the protection requirement directly. In the latter case,
the manufacturer must establish a technical construction file and obtain a certificate or report from a
‘competent body’.

Therefore, the application of harmonised standards is not mandatory under the EMC Directive. However,
if the manufacturer decides to apply the harmonised standards and declares as such, the apparatus shall
comply with those standards.

Enforcement of the EMC Directive is performed by Member States. If a manufacturer declares conformity
to the EMC Directive by application of the relevant harmonised standards, and consequently if a Member
State ascertains that this is not the case, or that a standard has been incorrectly applied (and as a result the
apparatus does not meet the protection requirements), the Member State shall take the appropriate actions
to remove the product from the market, prohibit its placing on the market or restrict its free movement.
All such measures shall be notified to the Commission who instruct the case and inform the Member
States if the measure is justified (safeguard clause procedure, Article 9 of the EMC Directive).

C 84 E/928

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission is unaware of any breaches (in respect of shortcomings) in the standards referred to in
Annex 1. The EN 61000-3 series of standards refer to harmonics, voltage change, voltage fluctuation and
flicker generated by apparatus. The EN 61000-6-1 and EN 61000-6-2 standards refer to immunity of
apparatus. The EN 61000-6-4 standard refers to emission in industrial environment whereas the EN
61000-6-3 standard refers to emissions in residential environment.

The required limits in EN 61000-6-3 are:

(cid:1) 30 Megahertz (MHz) to 230 MHz: 30dB (microvolt per meter) measured at a distance of 10 metres

(m) (Quasi-peak measurement)

(cid:1) 230 MHz to 1 000 MHz: 37dB (microvolt per meter) measured at a distance of 10m (Quasi-peak

measurement)

(cid:1) Below 30MHz: no radiation limits, only conducted limits.

(1) Council Directive 89/336/EEC of 3 May 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the member States relating to

electromagnetic compatibility, OJ L 139, 23.5.1989.

(2004/C 84 E/1025)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1001/04

by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission

(25 March 2004)

Subject: Critical dialogue with Iranian theocracy on minorities

Has the issue of minorities been discussed during the critical dialogue with the Iranian theocracy and, if so,
when and how, and what plans or strategies are in place for future dialogue concerning the position of
minorities in Iran?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2004)

The EU and Iran have held specific discussions on Human Rights through three rounds of the EU (cid:1) Iran
Human Rights Dialogue. These meetings comprise the EU Troika and Iranian officials (including Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Parliament and Judiciary), as well as representatives of Human Rights institutions, civil
society and academia from both sides. Since the third and most recent round in October 2003,
representatives from the Parliament also participate.

On the occasion of the first round in Tehran on 16/17 December 2002, two main themes were focused
upon: Discrimination and Prevention of Torture.

The rights of minorities (ethnic and religious) were discussed under the theme Discrimination. This
dialogue also feeds into the semi-annual Comprehensive Dialogue Meetings with Iran, held at deputy
ministerial level and covering bilateral, regional and global matters including Human Rights.

As Council conclusions confirm, the EU monitors the Human Rights Dialogue and assesses progress on the
issue of minorities, as well as other themes, on the basis of concrete benchmarks.