Safety Guidelines

 

 

2. What is the FDA’s role

 

 

concerning the safety of

 

 

reasons for inconsistent results.

 

 

wireless phones?

 

 

Under the law, the FDA does not

 

 

review the safety of

 

 

radiationemitting consumer

 

 

products such as wireless phones

Safety

before they can be sold, as it

does with new drugs or medical

 

 

devices. However, the agency has

 

 

authority to take action if

Guidelines

wireless phones are shown to

emit radiofrequency energy (RF)

 

 

at a level that is hazardous to the

 

 

user. In such a case, the FDA

 

 

could require the manufacturers

 

 

of wireless phones to notify

 

 

users of the health hazard and to

 

 

repair, replace, or recall the

 

 

phones so that the hazard no

 

 

longer exists. Although the

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existing scientific data do not

justify FDA regulatory actions,

 

 

the FDA has urged the wireless

phone industry to take a number of steps, including the following:

Support needed research into possible biological effects of RF of the type emitted by wireless phones;

Design wireless phones in a way that minimizes any RF exposure to the user that is not necessary for device function; and

Cooperate in providing users of wireless phones with the best possible information on possible effects of wireless phone use on human health.

The FDA belongs to an interagency working group of the federal agencies that have responsibility for different aspects of RF safety to ensure coordinated efforts at the federal level. The following

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LG Electronics 501C manual What is the FDA’s role, Wireless phones?