Other than the fact that products that do not comply cannot be marked legally in the EC, more disruptive manifestations may exist that could affect the very manner in which we lead our lives. These encompass health and safety issues, the security of data processing and the functioning of vital electronic equipment. ABS brake systems, engine management systems, telecommunications and data transfer plus the security of both commercial and military data could all be readily compromised without adequate screening.

Other issues such as the dangers to health due to the emissions from mobile telephones and computer monitors plus ongoing research into the effects of living in close proximity to high voltage overhead power lines, all form part of the global concept of EMC. Some aspects can be easily controlled but others will continue to remain unresolved for years to come. The doomsday scenario of EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) resulting from a high altitude nuclear explosion would certainly lead to the almost total loss of commercial communications and data processing plus much of the non-hardened military network, whilst at the same time avoiding the mass destruction of the infrastructure necessary for future use, possibly by the instigator of the blast.

In other words, potential chaos with no communications, services, power, media such as TV or radio and the loss of many forms of transport.