SAGE (Stakeholder Advisory Group on EMF/ELF)

In 2004 the UK adopted new guidelines which set magnetic field levels above which people should not usually be exposed. That left the question about what effects EMFs have on people below these levels where there is an association with childhood leukaemia but no clear causal mechanism.

Because this is an area of uncertainty, there is a question as to what precautionary measures (if any) should be adopted.

As this has been a contentious question evoking a wide spectrum of opinion, this process was set up to involve key stakeholders to advise government on what it could do.

This Stakeholder Advisory Group and the process by which it is doing its work has become known as SAGE (Stakeholder Advisory Group ELF EMF) and is funded equally by CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA, the Department of Health and National Grid plc.

SAGE issued its first interim assessment in April 2007 which identifies a building moratorium as the ‘best available option’ to reduce EMF exposure and urges Government to make a ‘clear decision’ on whether action is to be taken.

In response to a parliamentary question in June 2007, the Government stated that it has referred SAGE’s report to the Health Protection Agency for its advice.

The HPA is currently considering the SAGE report, and is expected to give its advice to Government before Parliament returns in October.

Visit the SAGE website

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