FYI

Cheers

Lisa

-----Original Message-----
From: Press Office [mailto:Pressoffice@hpa-rp.org.uk]
Sent: 29 June 2006 16:33
To: Press Office
Subject: HPA Response to the Science and Technology Committee Report on Scientific Advice on the EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive

 

Liz Francis

 

 

Press Office

Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards

Health Protection Agency

Chilton, Didcot

Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ

Tel: (01235) 822744/5

Fax: (01235) 822746

Email:  pressoffice@hpa-rp.org.uk

Website:  http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation

 

 

 

Scientific Advice on the EU Physical Agents Directive.

A report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

 

The Health Protection Agency notes that the Science and Technology Committee (STC) has chosen to examine how scientific advice was used by Government to inform and advise on legislation emanating from the EU, in particular in relation to the Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields, EMFs) Directive¹. The purpose of the Directive is to provide minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to any risks arising from exposure to EMFs.

 

The Committee particularly examined concerns that have been expressed by the medical community that the Directive could restrict the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the treatment of patients and in medical research. The Committee considered this topic as an example of how the Government uses scientific advice in influencing policy in the European Union.

 

The Agency will study the criticisms made by the Committee carefully and ensure that any lessons are learnt from this issue. However it is hard to understand the criticism that the Agency’s consultation procedures for providing advice on the EU Directive were flawed and that the Agency was characterised by “an instinctive and dismissive resistance”. We have to state clearly, to avoid misunderstanding and further misinterpretation, that neither the Agency nor its predecessor organisation the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) played any part in the legislative and negotiation process related to the development and agreement on the EU Directive. This was the responsibility of Government Departments and regulatory bodies.

 

The Agency, and previously NRPB, has the responsibility for giving advice on exposure guidelines for the UK. The Agency undertook extensive public consultation during 2002/03 in relation to its review of scientific evidence² and the development of its advice on EMF exposure guidelines³ published in 2004. The advice refers to exposures of people (not just workers) to EMFs at various frequencies and is not aimed at specific industries or practices. This process was quite separate from the formal negotiations in Europe on the EU Directive. We note the Committee accepts that the review of evidence published in 2004 “is widely regarded as a definitive summary of the state of the science”.

 

The Agency is seeking to meet representatives from the STC to clarify the role of the HPA in advising Government on exposure guidelines.

 

 

 

1.       House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology (2006). Watching the Directives: Scientific Advice on the EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive.  http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_and_technology_committee/scitech210606.cfm

2.       A F McKinlay et alia 2004. Review of the Scientific Evidence for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (0–300 GHz.). Doc. 15(3), 1-195.

3.       A F Mckinlay et alia (2004). Advice on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (0–300 GHz). Doc NRPB 15(2), 1-31.

 

29 June 2006