ISSUES presentation

Slide1: 

European Information System on ElectroMagnetic Fields C.F. del Pozo, D. Papameletiou Physical and Chemical Exposure Unit IHCP, JRC, Ispra EMF-Net Meeting, Thessaloniki, 20 March 2004 Developing the Interface between JRC EIS-EMF and FP6 EMF-Net

AcknowledgementsFor the fruitful discussions and contributions fromPaolo Ravazzani & Guglielmo d’Inzeo: 

Acknowledgements For the fruitful discussions and contributions from Paolo Ravazzani andamp; Guglielmo d’Inzeo

Slide3: 

Summary (1) Analysing options for EMF-Net andamp; JRC/EIS-EMF to harmonise objectives, and allocate roles and tasks for the: (2) Proposing two-stage process for the production and validation of 'Issue Reports': (i) EMF-Net produces the draft 'Issue Reports', (ii) JRC/EIS-EMF organises information-flow and the peer-review process . (3) Discussing the development of a knowledge–based interface to facilitate retrieval of reference literature pertaining to a given 'issue'. This will practically correspond to a European Database and, therefore, it is suggested to explore synergies with the existing key databases. Identification and definition of 'key issues' around which risk communication to decision makers and to EU citizens will be focused Production, systematic update, and validation of 'issue' reports.

Slide4: 

Issues Identification Transparent and workable procedure to validate issues choice, and ensure their harmonised use in risk communication across the EU. Such a procedure could include the following steps: Proposal by the EMF-Net Stakeholder dialogue by the EIS-EMF Validation by the Scientific Committees of the EC

Slide5: 

Production of Issue Reports Issue reports are expected to be sound, authoritative 'state of knowledge' reports in a number of topics dealing with the bio-medical effects from exposure to EMF. Main purposes: Organize the reviewing andamp; interpretation of scientific results, and the evaluation of evidence on potential health impacts, Inform the decision-making process and give a transparent, reliable advice on the setting of recommendations at the EU level, and Provide straightforward answers and high-quality information to address the concerns of the citizen. Issue Reports will be produced and up-dated in a yearly basis: the first, in the first quarter of 2005, the second one a year later in 2006, and then the third and the fourth in 2007 and 2008.

Slide6: 

Issue Reports - Levels Issue Reports will be organised in four levels, from level 3 to level 0, in descending order of detail and complexity: Level 3, provide the initial, full text of the experts’ report, it should be a thorough review and evaluation of all the scientific evidence on the issue treated. Level 2 and level 1 both provide a more accessible and concise review of the initial report (2-3 pages). Level 2 reports will include interpretation and recommendations for policy makers. Level 0 reports are intended to deliver a clear, targeted message, and will be particularly associated with information campaigns, dissemination materials; and risk perception and risk communication activities. Information from levels 3, 1 and 0 is open and accessible for the general public. Level 2 reports are aimed specifically as advice for policy-makers and legislators.

Slide7: 

Work Allocation The production and validation of 'Issue Reports' is proposed as a two-stage process: 1) EMF-Net will establish issue-specific Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to draft 'Issue Reports'. The TWG should not include more than five or six members, counting the committee chairman 2) JRC/EIS-EMF will set the information platform for document management and online forum among the TWGs (CIRCA resource). Organise and co-ordinate the scientific peer-review process, the stakeholder dialogue and EC Scientific Committees validation, within the same platform.

Slide8: 

Risk Perception and Risk Communication andamp; Information Dissemination State of Knowledge andamp; Further Research Needs, Reports and Recommendations Virtual Networks Working Groups Advisory Board Steering Committee 1 2 JRC EIS-EMF FP6 EMF-Net Issue Reports 3 References Databases 0 Levels CIRCA platform Issue Reports and Peer-review, Stakeholder dialogue, andamp; EC Scientific Committees Validation using CIRCA Peer-review andamp; Stakeholder dialogue SCHER SCOEL

Slide9: 

EMF-Net Tasks Drafting the reports The TWG members selected by EMF-Net Steering Committee in close consultation with responsibles of the main tasks and work-packages. Their tasks include, The production of the first draft Issue Reports The production of final reports, which take into account the results of scientific peer-review, stakeholder dialogue, and validation procedures   Editorial Board To supervise production of issue reports and ensure that peer-review results, advice andamp; recommendations for policy-makers, and EC and Member States actions will be considered. It may be the same for all issues and be formed of selected EMF-Net Steering Committee members, including the JRC and other invited experts in an ad-hoc basis.

Slide10: 

JRC/EIS-EMF Tasks(1) Scientific peer-review Carried-out by 'virtual networks' of experts, set up mainly through systematic searches in various databases and libraries, and further 'screened' with the collaboration of the TWGs. 'Virtual networks' will be offered access to the draft TWG issue reports through CIRCA for critical inputs. This feedback will be processed into the Issue Reports by the TWGs.   Stakeholder Dialogue The outcome of the scientific peer-review may be offered to stakeholders (including NGOs, policy makers, Industry and Academia) for consultation using the CIRCA system. EIS-EMF advisory board members will act as focal points representing EU-wide networks of actors. They will be requested to collect contributions from their networks, summarise and submit inputs.

Slide11: 

JRC/EIS-EMF Tasks(2) Optimisation of 0-level communications JRC will involve risk perception and risk communication scientists in the production of the final 0 level documents to optimise the understanding of the texts by the general public. The results will be tested, by applying risk perception metrics on special focus groups.   Validation The final reports will be submitted to DG SANCO’s Scientific Committees on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER), and to DG EMPL’s Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL).

Slide12: 

Interface to EMF Databases JRC studying cost-efficient options to develop a knowledge–based interface to facilitate the retrieval of reference literature. Built around allocations between 'issue' definitions in EMF-Net, and indexes, ontologies, andamp; tagging systems of the existing key data bases on EMF (i.e., Combined WHO-EMF/IEEE, and of the FEMU-WBLDB databases). This Interface may, in practice, develop into a European Database, and be a valuable and specific contribution complementing other national and international efforts. It will provide full control and multi-level data accessibility, and a tool for informed decision making, for carrying out research and periodical evaluation of results. To guarantee the database continuity, including the data coverage, quality and updating frequency, necessary actions with key existing databases are being explored. JRC is developing a working paper highlighting the technical options available.

Slide13: 

Possible Option: information platform andamp; interface between EMF-Net andamp; EIS-EMF networks, and FEMU knowledge-based references database

Thank you for your attention: 

Thank you for your attention