Displaying emission levels on handsets may become mandatory

SAR is a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the body when exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field

Government is likely to come out with guidelines which will make it mandatory for imported mobile phones to display their level of emission, a move that is expected to regulate imports of handsets having high radiation levels.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) recently held a meeting with Indian Cellular Associations and Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA) regarding the compliance of specific absorption rate (SAR) limits for mobile phones.

The DoT suggested that as IMEI number was made mandatory for import of mobile phones in October 2009, prescription of SAR value on handsets should be made mandatory as well.

SAR is a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the body when exposed to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field. Radio waves are emitted by mobile telephone handsets.

"For regulating import of mobile phones with prescribed SAR value, it was suggested that at present we may request DGFT to notify import of mobile phones with prescribed SAR value in continuation to their (DGFT) notification ...Prohibiting import of mobile phones without IMEI number with all zeroes IMEI," DoT said in an office memorandum.

It was emphasised that DoT should have the powers to collect sample from manufacturers or importers as well as the power to destroy the consignment in case a device is found to be not in compliance with SAR value.

Telecommunication Engineering Centres (TEC) has said a lab has also been set up in its premises for testing SAR value of the mobile phones, according to the memorandum.

oIn September 2012, the government set new emission norms and the SAR value on mobile phones was fixed at 1.6 watts/kg averaged over one gram of human tissue. Previously, the SAR value for handsets was 2 watts/kg measured over 10 grams of human tissue.