France: The health of cell phone users cast aside

The health of cell phone users cast aside
By : Phonegate Team • 2 May 2025

Despite repeated warnings from ANSES, SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) measurement standards remain inadequate, endangering the health of millions of French and European cell phone users. The response on April 29, 2025 from Yannick Neuder, Minister for Health and Access to Care, to a question from MP Mathieu Lefèvre (Renaissance, Val-de-Marne) confirms the authorities’ inaction in the face of Phonegate.

Unsuitable and dangerous European standards

Following the alarming ANSES report of 2019, known as the “Phonegate” report, which can be consulted here, and France’s formal objection to the European Commission in 2020, one conclusion is clear: no cell phone marketed in Europe really protects its users. Tests are always carried out 5 mm from the body, as the Minister acknowledged in his official reply:

“ANFR is involved in the European process of revising standards for measuring the SAR of radioelectric equipment. The process of revising the trunk SAR standard is still underway. In 2025, the trunk SAR will thus be measured at a maximum distance of 5 millimeters from the body.”

Yannick Neuder, Minister for Health and Access to Care

However, this 5 mm distance pushes up the SAR well beyond regulatory levels when the phone is used against the body, as is the case in everyday life. ANFR tests and our “real” SAR calculator have shown that some models can exceed 7 W/kg on contact, more than three times the authorized European limit of 2 W/kg.

A carefully ignored health hazard

In successive reports in 2016, 2019 and 2023, ANSES reminded us that the biological effects of radiofrequencies (particularly on young people and those at risk) call for an urgent review of exposure thresholds. Yet no concrete steps have been taken in 10 years to reinforce consumer protection.

We cannot say it often enough:

“No cell phone put on the European market since the ANSES report of 2019 protects the health of its users: the 5 mm measurement masks massive exceedances of regulatory thresholds as soon as the device is in direct contact with the body."

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https://phonegatealert.org/en/the-health-of-cell-phone-users-cast-aside/