DIRECTIVE 2013/35/EU BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL of 26 June 2013
The new European directive on the exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields sets the minimum health & safety requirements for the exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields.
These include the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) levels that cover the scientifically established links between short term biophysical effects and exposure to electromagnetic fields.
These exposure limits are linked to the level of exposure and the frequency of the electromagnetic fields and are based on recommendations made by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
The directive covers all known direct and indirect biophysical effects caused by electromagnetic fields (thermal and non-thermal effects, currents induced in limbs, interferences with electronic equipment and devices, etc.).
However, the directive does not address the potential long term effects of exposure as there is currently no well grounded scientific evidence that would enable a causal link to be established.
The directive does, however, call upon the Commission to take into account future changes to scientific knowledge of the issue.
Member States have until 1 July 2016 to transpose the directive.