ACEA (automobile manufacturers), BNE (broadcasting), Ceemet (manufacturing), CLEPA (automotive suppliers), ENTSO-E (electricity transmission), EURELECTRIC (electricity), Euro Chlor (chlorine production), EBU (broadcasting), EWA (welding), ORGALIME (mechanical, electrical, electronic and metallic engineering).
These industries have closely followed the Directive’s development particularly through the joint Industry Expert Group (IEG) which has presented comments and recommendations to the Commission, Council and Parliament at each stage of the process.
We consider that any proposal must be proportionate and be realistic about what can be implemented, by balancing the cost to industry against improvements in the health and safety protection of workers, where real EMF risks exist.
We consider that a sound scientific basis for the Directive is essential, by aligning it with the latest guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) who are the recognised authority, and we welcome the fact that both Council and the Commission have indicated they intend the Directive to reflect ICNIRP’s recommendations.
Whereas considerable progress has been made with both the Commission Proposal of 14th June 2011 and the Council General Approach of 27th September 2012, there are important differences between the two proposals, and issues that still need to be resolved.
However, there are still elements of the current Council proposal that are unclear and contradictory, with the possible consequence that the Directive will fail the primary objective of applying ICNIRP and instead will become more restrictive on implementation than is intended and is envisaged by the ICNIRP guidance. Because this is a complex scientific subject the changes necessary to achieve the agreed objective of implementing ICNIRP are of necessity detailed.