Who monitors compliance with the standards on radiation exposure (SAR value) applicable to mobile phones and other terminals?
(This is an unofficial English auto-translation of the text.)
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Submitted by:
SCHLATTER MARIONNA
Group of Greens
Swiss Green Party
Filed at:
National council on 16 June 2023
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Submitted by:
SCHLATTER MARIONNA
Group of Greens
Swiss Green Party
Filed at:
National council on 16 June 2023
Status of deliberations:
Position statement in response to the intervention is available
Submitted text:
The “Phonegate” scandal, which broke out in France in 2018, revealed that cell phone manufacturers were using subterfuge when measuring their devices to lower the radiation value. The SAR value (specific absorption rate) measures the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the body. It is used to assess the potential effects of exposure to radiation emitted by mobile phones and other devices used close to the body. The tests are carried out on mannequins. In the wake of “Phonegate”, the international standards regarding the SAR index have been adapted, improving the regulations on controls, evaluation and reporting and clarifying in particular the measurement procedure.
I therefore ask the Federal Council to answer the following questions:
1. Which authority is officially responsible for monitoring compliance with standards on radiation emitted by terminals (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, connected watches, medical devices, toys, headphones and other connected devices)?
2. How are European standards transposed into Swiss law and how is the conformity of devices checked?
3. Which official body carries out technical approval checks and random checks?
4. How many mobile phones or other devices used near the body have been subject to state intervention in the last two years due to non-compliance with safety standards (exceeding the SAR value)?
Position statement in response to the intervention is available
Submitted text:
The “Phonegate” scandal, which broke out in France in 2018, revealed that cell phone manufacturers were using subterfuge when measuring their devices to lower the radiation value. The SAR value (specific absorption rate) measures the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the body. It is used to assess the potential effects of exposure to radiation emitted by mobile phones and other devices used close to the body. The tests are carried out on mannequins. In the wake of “Phonegate”, the international standards regarding the SAR index have been adapted, improving the regulations on controls, evaluation and reporting and clarifying in particular the measurement procedure.
I therefore ask the Federal Council to answer the following questions:
1. Which authority is officially responsible for monitoring compliance with standards on radiation emitted by terminals (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, connected watches, medical devices, toys, headphones and other connected devices)?
2. How are European standards transposed into Swiss law and how is the conformity of devices checked?
3. Which official body carries out technical approval checks and random checks?
4. How many mobile phones or other devices used near the body have been subject to state intervention in the last two years due to non-compliance with safety standards (exceeding the SAR value)?
Opinion of the Federal Council of 23 August 2023
In February 2020, the Federal Council responded to the Munz inquiry19.4496 (Mobile phones. Endangering health due to non-compliance with SAR values). It instructed the DFI, in collaboration with DETEC, to determine, within the framework of an interdepartmental working group, which authorities are competent for market surveillance of products which emit non-ionizing radiation RNI (mobile telephones, lamps UVC, cosmetic lasers for domestic use) with regard to their RNI and health aspects, and to propose, if necessary, a modification of the existing regulations. The DFI will submit the results of this analysis to the Federal Council.
1. The work of the interdepartmental working group has not yet been completed. The results obtained to date suggest that, according to the current state of the legislation, no market surveillance authority in Switzerland would be competent with regard to the health aspects of RNI products (in particular the verification of compliance with the RNI limit values) . Once the work is completed, the Federal Council will decide on the continuation of the procedure.
2. Radiocommunication installations and electrical equipment are covered by the Switzerland-EU agreement on mutual recognition of conformity assessment (RS 0.946.526.81). This agreement aims to avoid technical barriers to trade between Switzerland and the EU. In these two areas, Switzerland adopts the harmonized standards published by the EU without adaptation, by means of a reference in the Federal Gazette.
Since approval does not exist in these two areas, compliance control falls firstly to manufacturers, then secondarily to importers.
3./4. Currently, no authority exercises market surveillance regarding compliance with radiation standards (SAR values) of mobile phones and other terminals used close to the body.
COMPETENT AUTHORITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, ENERGY AND COMMUNICATION (DETEC)
CO-SIGNATORIES (5)
MUNZ MARTINA
In February 2020, the Federal Council responded to the Munz inquiry19.4496 (Mobile phones. Endangering health due to non-compliance with SAR values). It instructed the DFI, in collaboration with DETEC, to determine, within the framework of an interdepartmental working group, which authorities are competent for market surveillance of products which emit non-ionizing radiation RNI (mobile telephones, lamps UVC, cosmetic lasers for domestic use) with regard to their RNI and health aspects, and to propose, if necessary, a modification of the existing regulations. The DFI will submit the results of this analysis to the Federal Council.
1. The work of the interdepartmental working group has not yet been completed. The results obtained to date suggest that, according to the current state of the legislation, no market surveillance authority in Switzerland would be competent with regard to the health aspects of RNI products (in particular the verification of compliance with the RNI limit values) . Once the work is completed, the Federal Council will decide on the continuation of the procedure.
2. Radiocommunication installations and electrical equipment are covered by the Switzerland-EU agreement on mutual recognition of conformity assessment (RS 0.946.526.81). This agreement aims to avoid technical barriers to trade between Switzerland and the EU. In these two areas, Switzerland adopts the harmonized standards published by the EU without adaptation, by means of a reference in the Federal Gazette.
Since approval does not exist in these two areas, compliance control falls firstly to manufacturers, then secondarily to importers.
3./4. Currently, no authority exercises market surveillance regarding compliance with radiation standards (SAR values) of mobile phones and other terminals used close to the body.
COMPETENT AUTHORITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, ENERGY AND COMMUNICATION (DETEC)
CO-SIGNATORIES (5)
MUNZ MARTINA
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