Regulations on Electromagnetic Fields from Electric Power Facilities
Regulation of Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields Generated by Electric Power Facilities in Japan
In 1976, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) (then the Ministry of International Trade and Industry) regulated the electric field strength at 1 meter above the ground under high-voltage transmission lines to be less than 3 kV/m (kilovolts per meter) by the "Ministerial Ordinance Setting Technical Standards for Electrical Facilities" in order to prevent uncomfortable electric field perception (tingling sensation) by people due to electrostatic induction.
This regulatory value is lower than the limit set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines (5 kV/m).
In 2011, METI partially revised the "Ministerial Ordinance Setting Technical Standards for Electrical Facilities" and regulated the average magnetic flux density to be less than 200 µT (microtesla) (see table below). This value aligns with the reference level for low-frequency magnetic fields (200 µT at 50 and 60 Hz) in the guidelines revised by ICNIRP in 2010 based on the results of a risk assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO).
An international comparison of regulations and guidelines for general public exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (50/60 Hz) from Electric Power Facilities.
| Country / Organization | Enactment year | Electric field | Magnetic field | ||
| kV/m | Classification | μT | Classification | ||
| ICNIRP1) | 2010 | 5.0(50Hz) 4.2(60Hz) |
Guidelines | 200(50Hz) 200(60Hz) |
Guidelines |
| Japan | 1976 (Electric field) 2011 (Magnetic field) |
3 | Regulations | 200(50/60Hz) | Regulations |
| Korea | 2020 | 3.52) | Regulations | 83.3(60Hz) | Regulations |
| United States of America3) | - | - | - | - | |
| Germany | 2013 | 5 | Regulations | 100(50Hz) | Regulations |
| Switzerland | 2000 | 5 | Regulations | 100(50Hz)4) | Regulations |
| France | 2001 | 5 | Regulations | 100(50Hz) | Regulations |
| Sweden | 2002 | 5 | Recommendations | 100(50Hz) | Recommendations |
| Italy | 2003 | 5 | Regulations | 100(50Hz)4) | Regulations |
| United Kingdom5) | 2011 | 9 | Standards | 360(50Hz) | Standards |
| Norway | 2011 | 5 | Regulations | 200(50Hz) | Regulations |
| Australia | 2015 | 5 | Recommendations | 200(50Hz) | Recommendations |
Regulations: mandatory standards based on laws and regulations
Guidelines, recommendations, and standards: voluntary standards and policies that are not legally binding
- ICNIRP revised its guidelines at the end of 2010 following the publication of WHO's Environmental Health Criteria No. 238 (Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields). The previous guideline values for magnetic fields (1998) were 100 µT (50 Hz) and 83 µT (60 Hz).
- In South Korea, the regulation for electric fields outside Electric Power Facilities is 4.2 kV/m.
- In the United States, there is no national regulation, but some states have established their own regulations.
- In addition to this regulatory value (exposure limit), Switzerland sets an emission limit for magnetic fields at 1 µT, and Italy sets a cautionary level at 10 µT and a quality objective at 3 µT, all based on precautionary policies for facilities in sensitive areas such as residences, hospitals, and schools. However, the WHO's Environmental Health Criteria No. 238 (Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields) states that it does not endorse such precautionary limits.
- The UK standards are voluntary implementation standards and are based on values independently derived from the ICNIRP guidelines (1998).
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