communicating on electromagnetic fields and health

The WHO (World Health Organisation) follows the guidelines of ICNIRP (International Commission on Non lonizing Radiation Protection) that are based on the results of the scientific research. The recommendation is 0.08 W/kg, corresponding to an electric field of 41.2 V/m for a reference frequency of 900 MHz.

Since 2001, the federal government decided to take into account the precautionary principle by integrating a safety factor 4 regarding the international recommendations. Belgium has adopted a 0.02 W/kg norm. This value corresponds to an electric field of 20.6 V/m m for a reference frequency of 900 MHz. This norm is global and doesn't apply to mobile operators only but well to all technologies using electromagnetic waves between 10 MHz and 10 GHz such as FM radios, television, the Astrid network, WiMax, WiFi, &. The sum of all emissions may not exceed the norm in every place accessible to public. Furthermore, a control procedure of the compliance to the norm is defined. As the federal level is not competent to fix this kind of norm, the national norm has been cancelled by the State Council on 20/05/2009.

In February 2007, the Brussels Parliament adopted a norm that is 50 times stricter than the federal norm. This norm corresponds to an electric field of 3 V/m m for a reference frequency of 900 MHz. this norm is also global but won't be applicable to radio and television transmitters. The Brussels ordinance foresaw a coming into force by the 14th of March 2009. The ordinance indeed laid down a period of two years to apply the Brussels standard, which in fact requires the adoption of implementing decrees containing useful technical and operational information.

This period could not be put to much use owing to the proceedings for annulment pending before the Constitutional Court for nearly one and a half years. The implementing decrees are currently being adopted by the Government of the Brussels Capital Region. That is why the parties (the mobile operators and the Brussels government), who have formally expressed their commitment to start consultations for the elaboration of the implementing decrees which can offer an adequate, feasible technical solution for the operators, will talk in order to enable the definitive adoption of the order's implementing decrees on 15 September 2009. During this interim period, the Brussels Environment department will carry out its mission of inspection, complaints processing and mediation, by issuing a moratorium on drawing up reports.

In April 2009, the Walloon Parliament adopted a norm of 3 V/m for each antenna, each operator and each technology. This norm has to be respected in all places of stay (inside buildings, on playgrounds and on sports fields).

The Flemish region has to fix its own norm.

21 on 27 countries of the Union apply the WHO recommendations. Brussels has the stricter norm of the EU.