Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission
1.12.2011
1. The BioInitiative Report is a compilation of individual contributions from a small survey of scientists that did not unveil any new research results and did not provide a complete review of the available relevant scientific literature at the time of its publication in 2007. A number of scientific reviews of this report from various trustworthy sources internationally, including the Health Council of the Netherlands, have pointed to major scientific flaws and inconsistencies.
2. Since the European Parliament adopted a resolution on health concerns associated with electromagnetic fields (EMF)[1] in April 2009, the Commission has continued to fund research on this issue and has launched a stakeholder dialogue. The Commission is also continuing to monitor scientific evidence on this issue. The Commission is further organising a scientific conference on 16-17 November 2011 on the health effects of EMF and will request the Scientific Committee for Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks to review its position on this issue thereafter.
3. According to the Treaty, the Member States are responsible for the protection of public health and the Union does not have the legal competence to issue binding legislation on adverse health effects of EMF. The Council adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EC[2] to provide the Member States with a non-binding common framework of exposure limits aimed at ensuring a high level of health protection.
However, manufacturers and operators of wireless telecommunication equipment in the EU must comply with Directive 1999/5/EC[3]. The harmonised technical standards providing presumption of conformity with this directive aim at ensuring that citizens' exposure to EMF does not exceed the limits proposed by the Council recommendation.
- [1] Commission internal reference SP(2009) 3508. See OEIL website of the Parliament. Document SP(2009) 3508 approved by the Commission on 2 July 2009.
- [2] OJ L 1999, 30.7.1999.
- [3] Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity.
OJ C 168 E, 14/06/2012