Watching the Directives

Book excerpt: The EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive (which was adopted in April 2004 and must be enshrined in law in EU member states by April 2008) sets out exposure limits designed to provide a minimum standard of protection from occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The Committee's report focuses on the impact of this Directive on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment for diagnosis, treatment and research use. This is the first of three case studies under the Committee's over-arching inquiry into the way scientific evidence and advice is used by the UK Government to influence policy at EU level. It finds that there were failings in the way scientific advice was used to inform the Directive, both in Brussels and in the UK. The European Commission relied too heavily on one source of advice and was not sufficiently responsive to concerns raised by the magnetic resonance community, whilst there was serious failings in the consultation process in the UK, particular by the Health and Safety Executive and by the Health Protection Agency.