Directive 2012/11/EU of 19 April 2012 amending Directive 2004/40/EC on minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields)

A new directive postponing the transposition of electromagnetic fields directive 2004/40/EC by 18 months, i.e. to 31 October 2013, enters into force on 24 April, on the day of its publication in the Official Journal.

The new deadline for transposition would allow for more time to discuss in depth the Commission proposal for a new directive on electromagnetic fields from 2011 which should repeal directive 2004/40. In fact, directive 2004/40/EC was adopted together with other measures intended to protect workers from the health effects of noise, vibration and optical radiation. However, soon after its adoption in 2004, the medical community working with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) claimed that its activities would be hampered by the strict exposure limit values laid down therein. Due to these difficulties in its application and to allow time for the directive to be amended in the light of new scientific information, the Parliament and Council decided at that time to delay its transposition until 30 April 2012. (Sources: Press release of the Council of the European Union)