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Editor’s note:
The European Directive has generated
much discussion throughout the MRI community globally. SMRT Policy
Board Member and Publications Committee Chair, John Totman,
shares his view of the directive from the MR Technologists
perspective.
The European Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive
applies to occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (not
clinical exposure) and was intended to limit workers’ acute exposure
to strong electromagnetic fields, as may be found near electricity
substations, radio or television transmitters or industrial
equipment. However, the regulations impact significantly on MRI, if
enforced the use of MRI might be restricted and working practices
would need to be changed.
Editor’s note:
The following update of the European Directive is
written by Stephen Keevil, Ph.D., who
represents the UK MRI community in discussions with the UK
government and the European Commission about safety and regulatory
issues. Dr. Keevil is currently Consultant Physicist, Head of
Magnetic Resonance Physics and Research and Development Lead for
Imaging at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Reader in
Medical Physics at King’s College London. He is also joint Director
of the NICE External Assessment Centre for Imaging Technologies. He
is a member of the safety committees of both the International
Society for MR in Medicine (ISMRM) and the European Society for
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB). He is President
Elect of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
and also President of the United Kingdom Radiological Congress (UKRC)
for 2012-13.
The situation with the European Directive can be summarised as
follows.
In April 2008, the European Parliament and Council agreed to delay
implementation of the EMF Directive (2004/40/EC) for two years,
until the end of April 2012, because of the possible impact on MRI
clinical practice and research. A lengthy period of impact
assessment and consultation with stakeholders followed, including
detailed and very constructive discussions with the MRI community.
In June 2011, the Commission proposed a new Directive, in which MRI
would be removed from the exposure limits and worker safety
addressed instead through Europe-wide guidelines on safe working and
training requirements. This proposal requires agreement from the
European Parliament and Council before it can be adopted.
Unfortunately there has been considerable resistance, particularly
in the Council, which is made up of representatives of EU
member-state governments. Some members’ states are opposed in
principle to removing one occupational sector from the exposure
limits, and others are not happy that the proposed safe working
guidelines have yet to be written. The Commission has therefore
proposed a further delay, which is itself currently being considered
by the Parliament and Council and is likely to result in an
additional 18-24 months in which to resolve the problem. Further
details and regular updates can be found at
http://www.alliance-for-mri.org/cms/website.php?id=/en/eu_affairs_research/alliance_for_mri/alliance_for_mri_-_news.htm.
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