In its recent letter to the Polish Presidency, CEEMET highlighted the concern that the proposed directive may unintentionally prohibit processes that do not cause adverse physical effects. Many processes used by the manufacturing industry produce significant electromagnetic fields. A new proposal adopted by the Commission in June 2011 was introduced with the aim to eventually replace the unimplemented directive of 2004.
CEEMET commissioned a study to determine whether some common industrial processes, such as welding, that do not cause adverse physical effects, may exceed the health limit values listed in the directive proposal. The preliminary results appear to question the proportionality of the approach taken in the Directive as it could lead to the prohibition of some common industrial processes at which not adverse health effect is observed. Further they allow identifying technical shortcomings in the proposal.
