Hong Kong's Telecommunications Authority (TA) is planning to introduce a scheme that would provide relevant information to consumers on radiofrequency (RF) radiation safety of hand-held mobile phones. This is to assure consumers that the mobile phones they use would comply with the internationally accepted safety limits on RF radiation.
"In consultation with the Director of Health, the TA has decided to adopt the S.A.R. limits of ICNIRP and ANSI/IEEE as the safety standard on RF radiation exposure for hand-held mobile phones. They are the two most widely accepted international standards. From 1 April 2003 onwards, mobile phones type-approved in Hong Kong will comply with either of these limits," said a spokesperson of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA).
"Consumers will be able to identify the manufacturers and models of the type-approved mobile phones and their S.A.R. values by checking the OFTA website or by looking for the prescribed label affixed to the type-approved mobile phones," continued the spokesperson.
The design of the prescribed label is shown below:
"The scheme will enable consumers to make informed decision on the choice of mobile phones," said the spokesperson of OFTA.
Currently, there are two commonly adopted S.A.R. limits, one recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (2 watts per kilogram) and the other by the American National Standards Institute/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (ANSI/IEEE) (1.6 watts per kilogram). The S.A.R. values determined in accordance with ICNIRP and ANSI/IEEE recommendations cannot be compared directly as the assessment conditions are different."
Posted to the site on 6th January 2003
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/8087.php