Calls for cellphones to show radiation levels

By JOSIE CLARKE consumer reporter

A radiation rating could appear on the packaging of all mobile phones sold in New Zealand within months, if the telecommunications industry supports the plan.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has confirmed it is investigating what information would be appropriate for consumers who want to compare mobile phones by the amounts of radiation they emit.

The ministry's general manager, Keith Manch, said the information could start to appear within a few months if the industry could agree on a format by itself.

Consumers could have to wait longer if the Government had to step in with a formal consultation process.

The Consumers' Institute has already suggested that the figure known as an SAR (specific absorption rate), which indicates the amount of energy from a mobile phone absorbed by body tissue, be listed on mobile phones.

Institute technical adviser Hamish Wilson said the SAR rating was already known for the majority of mobile phones sold in New Zealand.

He envisaged a panel similar to an energy rating label that compared the radiation level of the phone with the maximum allowable level.

Tests on mobile phones carried out by the United States' Federal Communications Commission have found all phones with an SAR level of 1.6 or less are safe, but levels vary between models.

Telecom spokeswoman Linda Sanders said it was up to mobile phone manufacturers to provide the radiation levels of their phones, which needed to be in a readily comparable format to be of use to consumers.

Telecom would consider listing the information on its website.

It was rare for customers to question the safety of mobile phones, Ms Sanders said.

"People are pretty comfortable that all the phones sold in New Zealand are well within safety levels."

The strict regulations controlling radiation emission meant that there were only small differences between the phones that met safety standards.

Links:

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) data for various cellphones

US Federal Communications Commission