Switzerland: 19.3180 INTERPELLATION : “Phonegate”: Properly inform mobile phone users

UPDATE : On 29 May 2019, the Federal Council replied to this interpellation:

Opinion of the Federal Council:

1)

The Federal Office of Public Health has been informing the public for years about the best way to reduce exposure to mobile phone waves, with a detailed fact sheet. To prevent unnecessary head exposure, it recommends that users wear headphones and use a hands-free kit equipped with a low-intensity Bluetooth transmitter.

2) and 4)

According to the recommendations of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) value for mobile phones should not exceed 2 watts per kilogram at the ear. Limit values make it possible to avoid the occurrence of adverse health effects associated with the heating of tissues exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. They have been defined on the basis of research results on the effects of this radiation and take into account a safety factor of 50 um. The limit values therefore do not cover the as yet little known effects of short and long-term exposure that could occur despite compliance with these values.

In Europe, the ICNIRP recommendations were initially incorporated into EN 50361:2002, which, on the one hand, lays down requirements for the manufacturer and, on the other hand, makes it possible to state that there is a presumption of conformity for this type of telephone. This standard is also to be applied in Switzerland. Thanks to the subsequent publication of standards EN 62209-1 "Devices used in the vicinity of the ear" and EN 62209-2 "Devices used very close to the human body", the conditions for monitoring, evaluation and reporting as well as the inaccuracies in measurement methods have been improved. Thus, the distance taken into account between the device and the ear has been reduced from 15 to 25 mm; since 2017, it has been 5 mm.

The Federal Council is aware that the concept of a new global approach applies in the field of product safety. The responsibility of manufacturers is very great, because it is first and foremost their responsibility to ensure that the limit values laid down in the production standard are respected.

3)

The NIR Expert Advisory Group (BERENIS), set up by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), examines new scientific research on the effects of non-ionizing radiation and selects studies that it considers worthy of a detailed assessment from the point of view of the protection of persons. The results of the evaluation are published in the form of a quarterly newsletter on the FOEN website. Technical standards are not part of BERENIS' mandate.

5) and 6)

The current deployment of 5G is in the frequency ranges already used today for mobile telephony and wireless networks. In the longer term, 5G will also be used in higher frequency ranges (millimeter waves). The effects of such radiation on humans are not yet sufficiently known from a scientific point of view, and research in this area still needs to be further developed. For the time being, the date on which these millimeter waves could be deployed in Switzerland has not yet been determined.

19.3180 INTERPELLATION : “Phonegate”: Properly inform mobile phone users

(unofficial translation)

Submitted by: SEMADENI SILVA

Socialist Group
Swiss Socialist Party

Filing date: 20.03.2019
Submitted to: National Council

Status of deliberations:
Not yet dealt with by the Council

TABLED TEXT

Having become our permanent companions, smartphones are often worn close to the body, in the pants pocket, or directly glued to the ear during a call. In 2018, in France, it was made public that many models of mobile phones sold exceeded the specific absorption rate (SAR) values declared by the manufacturer. For years, users have been deceived ("Phonegate").



In the Beobachter newspaper of 13 February 2019, experts reported that SAR values of mobile phones were measured too far from the body. The measured values are thus significantly lower and do not correspond to reality. Taking into account risk studies and case law in neighboring countries, the health risks for mobile phone users are higher than previously assumed. In the meantime, manufacturers and the competent authorities have reached a compromise according to which the measuring distance between the mobile phone and the head must be 5 mm. This distance still does not correspond to the usual operating distance of 0 mm. Mobile phone users continue to be deceived. With the planned launch of fifth generation (5G) mobile telephony, it is high time to provide explanations to users.

This situation raises the following questions:

1. When was the Federal Council informed of these inadequate limit values and what steps have been taken to ensure that users were properly informed?

2. How did the federal authorities participate in the negotiations that led to the compromise on the distance between the mobile phone and the head, set at 5 mm, a far cry from reality? On the basis of these elements, has the precautionary principle been taken into account?

3. What research results related to this issue have been reported by the NRT Expert Advisory Group (BERENIS)? Has Professor Niels Kuster of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, quoted in the Beobachter article, been consulted to obtain clarification on these misleading SAR values?

4. In his research work, Professor Kuster has demonstrated that industry standards for limit values do not protect against long-term and harmful heating of body tissues. He recommends that these inadequate limit values be readjusted as a matter of urgency, especially for 5G. How does the Federal Council take this recommendation into account?

5. Future mobile phones compatible with the 5G network will emit extremely short waves, in the order of a millimeter. When and how does the Federal Council intend to inform citizens about this?

6. How will the Federal Council support independent research on the risks associated with the radiation emitted by 5G mobile phones?

COMPETENT AUTHORITY

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, ENERGY AND COMMUNICATION (DETEC)

FURTHER INFORMATION

PRIORITY ADVICE

National Council

COSIGNATORIES (26)

BARRILE ANGELO BENDAHAN SAMUEL BIRRER-HEIMO PRISCA CROTTAZ BRIGITTEDE LA REUSSILLE DENIS ESTERMANN YVETTE FREI DANIEL FRIEDL CLAUDIAGLÄTTLI BALTHASARGYSI BARBARA HADORN PHILIPP HARDEGGER THOMAS HAUSAMMANN MARKUS HEIM BEAKIENER NELLEN MARGRET MAIRE JACQUES-ANDRÉMARTI SAMIRA MAZZONE LISA MUNZ MARTINA PILLER CARRARD VALÉRIE REIMANN MAXIMILIAN REYNARD MATHIAS SCHNEIDER SCHÜTTEL URSULA TORNARE MANUEL TÖNGI MICHAEL VOGLER KARL

AREAS (4)

Environment Media and communication Health Science and research

https://www.parlament.ch/fr/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20193180