Electromagnetic fields: policies and regulations
Published 14 May 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electromagnetic-fields-guidance/electromagnetic-fields-policies-and-regulations
Central to UKHSA advice is that exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) should comply with the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
Public exposure
UK Government policy is that the ICNIRP guidelines are implemented as expressed in the 1999 EU Council Recommendation on limiting exposure of the general public (1999/519/EC), which refers to the 1998 ICNIRP guidelines. Exposures typically encountered by the public are well below these guidelines.
The electricity and the mobile network operators’ industry have voluntarily agreed to comply with the ICNIRP guidelines through codes of practice.
In 2021, the UK communications regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom)), introduced a new condition in spectrum licences requiring licensees to ensure that their use of equipment operating above a certain power level complies with the ICNIRP guidelines for the general public. The licence condition also requires licensees to keep records showing how they have ensured compliance - see Ofcom’s rules on EMF exposure.
Some products will also show compliance with ICNIRP guidelines through the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 or the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017.
Occupational exposure
Under the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 (CEMFAW), employers must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the levels of electromagnetic fields to which employees may be exposed.
Some workers may be at particular risk from electromagnetic fields. These workers include those wearing active or passive implanted medical devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, workers with medical devices worn on the body, such as insulin pumps, and pregnant workers.
The relevant UK regulatory body for occupational exposures is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Medical implants
The potential for electromagnetic fields to interfere with medical devices is an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issue and thus not a direct adverse health effect from exposure to electromagnetic fields.
Medical devices are designed and manufactured in such a way as to remove or reduce as far as possible risks connected with reasonably foreseeable external influences or environmental conditions, such as electromagnetic fields. In the UK, this is regulated by the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, and the relevant authority is the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).