French government will take action to limit exposure to certain mobile phones and to better inform the public
30 October, 2019.
French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, Ministry Solidarities and Health and Ministry of Economy and Finance Government jointly published a press release on government action to limit exposure to certain mobile phones and better inform the public.
The National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor (ANSES) published on 21 October 2019 its opinion on the health effects related to waves emitted by mobile phones when used close to the body. The opinion does not reveal a serious and immediate danger but underlines that the results of the scientific studies published to date do not make it possible to exclude the appearance of biological effects in the man beyond certain thresholds.
In a precautionary approach, the Ministers of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, Solidarities and Health and Economy and Finance have decided to undertake the following actions, which will meet the recommendations made by ANSES.
They will be conducted with the support of the National Frequency Agency (ANFR):
1) France will ask the European Commission to reinforce the requirements for new mobile phones put on the market. As recommended by ANSES, the Government will request that the approval tests be carried out in contact with the apparatus, and not 5 mm as is currently the case, so that they are more representative of the actual exposure. users ;
2) The ANFR will develop tools to reinforce user information:
- The mobile application "Open Barres" will be completed by the end of the year to allow each user to know the emissions of his mobile phone model;
- The recommended usage distances will also be indicated on the ANFR website (data.anfr.fr), which already mentions the distances for the telephones checked, as well as the "OpenBarres" application. On the condition of good cooperation from manufacturers, they will also be available by the end of the year.
3) The Government will bring together major manufacturers to undertake a voluntary process to update the software of their models put on the market before the application of recent, more restrictive emission standards;
4) Lastly, ANFR's control of products placed on the market will be increased by 30% in 2020.
The Government also reminds users of the 6 good behaviors to adopt when using a mobile phone in order to reduce its exposure to radio frequencies (http://www.radiofrequences.gouv.fr/les-bons-gestes-pour-limiter-his-exhibition-a99.html):
1. Use a hands-free kit
2. Emphasize text messages to communicate
3. Favor areas of good reception
4. Avoid holding your phone by ear in transport
5. Choose a mobile phone with a low absorption rate
6. Avoid long conversations
Original version of the press release (in French):
https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/actualites/presse/communiques-de-presse/article/le-gouvernement-agit-pour-limiter-l-exposition-aux-emissions-de-certains
Related information:
”French ANSES published a new expert appraisal on body-worn phones” (posted on 23 October, 2019)
https://www.jeic-emf.jp/english/topics/12895.html