European NGOs vs. SCHEER Opinion on RF

The letter, signed by leading NGOs advocating for public health and environmental protection (listed below), lists several concerns over SCHEER’s scientific integrity and bias. In particular, it criticizes the SCHEER Opinion on the need to revise the Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC and Directive 2013/35/EU.

The signatories argue that the SCHEER opinion is fundamentally flawed, both in its methodology and composition of experts, leading to a biased assessment that fails to reflect the scientific consensus on RF-EMF risks.

According to the NGOs, the SCHEER working group is dominated by individuals with conflicts of interest, including ties to the telecommunications industry, which undermine its independence. Additionally, the NGOs argue that SCHEER ignored or downplayed a large body of scientific research showing harmful biological non–thermal effects of RF-EMF exposure at levels below current regulatory limits.

These are the key points of the letter:

1. Lack of Independence: Several members of the SCHEER working group have connections to the telecom industry, creating a conflict of interest.
2. Biased Methodology: SCHEER allegedly ignored significant scientific evidence demonstrating adverse health effects from RF-EMF exposure, including neurological disorders, cancer risks, and oxidative stress. Further, the methodology for evaluating and weighing of the evidence is flawed and biased.
3. Exclusion of Environmental Impact: The SCHEER Opinion fails to assess the consequences of RF-EMF exposure on wildlife and ecosystems.
4. Contradiction with Other Scientific Assessments: The SCHEER Opinion contradicts findings from independent scientific bodies, such as for instance the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF), the BioInitiative group, which acknowledged significant risks linked to RF-EMF exposure.

This initiative represents a significant pushback against regulatory decisions that fail to account for the available independent scientific research on RF-EMF exposure. The signatory NGOs remain committed to ensuring public health and environmental protection and remain at the forefront of EU policy decisions.

The NGOs call on the European Commission to:

• Reject the SCHEER opinion due to its methodological flaws and conflicts of interest;
• Urge Commissioner Várhelyi to uphold scientific integrity and implement stricter safety measures based on independent, unbiased assessments and to commission a new, independent scientific review free from industry influence to assess the real risks of RF-EMF exposure;
• Adopt the precautionary principle and impose stricter exposure limits to protect public health and the environment, stressing that the European Commission must prioritize public health over industry interests.

The letter is signed by multiple organizations across Europe, including:

• PRIARTEM / Electrosensibles de France (France)
• Strålskyddsstiftelsen (Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation) (Sweden)
• Rådet for Helbredssikker Telekommunikation (Council for Safe Telecommunication) (Denmark)
• Europeans for Safe Connections
• May Day for Health and Freedom (Denmark)
• Associazione Malattie da Intossicazione Cronica e Ambientale (AMICA APS) (Italy)
• EHS Foreningen (Denmark)
• Comitato di Tutela Monte Porzio Catone (Italy)
• Associazione Italiana Elettrosensibili (Italy)
• Agir pour l’Environnement (France)
• Associazione per la Prevenzione e Lotta all’Elettrosmog (A.P.P.L.E.) (Italy)

More information about the critique of SCHEER Opinion report :
www.stralskyddsstiftelsen.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SCHEER-report_oct2_2023_final.pdf

Media Contact:
PRIARTEM / Electrosensibles de France – https://contact.priartem.fr/
Strålskyddsstiftelsen –
Europeans for Safe Connections –