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Health and Safety Information
165
have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in determining
the reasons for inconsistent results.
3. What is FDA’s role concerning the safety of wireless phones?
Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation emitting
consumer products such as wireless phones before they can be sold,
as it does with new drugs or medical devices. However, the agency
has authority to take action if wireless phones are shown to emit
radio frequency energy (RF) at a level that is hazardous to the user. In
such a case, 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 existing scientific data do not justify FDA regulatory
actions, 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
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 agencies belong
to this working group:
♦National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
♦Environmental Protection Agency Federal Communications
Commission
♦Occupational Safety and Health Administration
♦National Telecommunications and Information Administration
♦The National Institutes of Health participates in some interagency
working group activities, as well.