Alliance for MRI invites you to a reception

On behalf of the Alliance for MRI, Alejandro Cercas MEP, Liz Lynne MEP and Françoise Grossetête MEP invite you to a Drinks Reception with Commissioner László Andor on revising the EMF Directive. The reception will take place Wednesday 29th Sept., from 6.30 to 8.00 p.m. in the European Parliament Members Salon of the Altiero Spinelli Building, European Parliament, at 60 Rue Wiertz, 1050 Brussels.

Commissioner László Andor will present the commission’s approach to revise the existing EU Health and Safety Legislation to protect workers from electromagnetic fields (‘EMF’ Directive 2004/40/EC) in order to ensure the future of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The issue

The existing exposure limits in the EMF directive restrict and limit the use of MRI in interventional applications (such as brain surgery) and in the imaging of vulnerable patients and children where closer patient contact is required. MRI is free from risks associated with ionizing radiation (such as x-rays), which would be used instead of MRI in many situations if the current exposure limits remain in place.

The Commission will propose a new draft directive this autumn, which will seek to remove the threat posed to the future of MRI. In 2008 implementation of the EMF directive by the member states was postponed due to concerns raised by the Alliance for MRI about the unintended impact of the legislation on the clinical and research use of MRI in Europe.

The technology

MRI is a leading technology for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of a number of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological conditions. MRI has been used for over 25 years, imaging up to 500 million patients without harm to workers. Europe currently holds a leading position in the research and development of this technology and patients are provided with the highest standard of care.

The Alliance for MRI is a coalition of European Parliamentarians, patient groups, leading European scientists, and the medical community who together are seeking to avert the serious threat posed by the EU Physical Agents Directive 2004/40/EC (EMF) to the clinical and research use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Europe.

For more information, please contact the Alliance for MRI secretariat, Monika Hierath:
Email: monika.hierath@myesr.org
Office: 0043 1 533 40 64 20
Mobile: +43 6648349285
www.alliance-for-mri.org