The government has implemented stringent electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation standards for telecom operators beginning September 1, 2012.

The revised radiation norms have been put in place to safeguard public health from possible ill effects of radiation from handsets and the telecom towers.

As per the revised mobile radiation norms, all the new mobile handsets will have to comply with the specific absorption rate (SAR) values of 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of human tissue The mobile handsets with existing designs which are compliant with 2.0 W/kg averaged over 10 gram of human tissue, will continue to co-exist up to August 31, 2013. From Sept 1, 2013, only the mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 W/kg would be permitted to be manufactured or imported in India.

The sellers will have to provide information related to SAR values to the consumer at the point of sale. Also, the government will conduct random checks on mobile handset manufactured and sold in India or imported from other countries for compliance of SAR limit. These random checks will be carried out by the son to be set-up Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) SAR Laboratory. In the interim period, the government will accept test results from international accredited labs.

The manufacturers in India are also required to provide self declaration of SAR value of the handset. The government is undertaking required amendments in the Indian Telegraph Rule under Indian Telegraph Act 1985 to support and ensure the compliance of new SAR values for mobile handsets.

Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells will be responsible for conducting audit on the self certification furnished by the service providers. TERM Cell will carry out test audit of 10 per cent of the telecom base transceiver site (BTS) on random basis and in case of public complaints. For non-compliance of EMF standards, a penalty of Rs 5, 00, 000 per BTS site will be imposed on the service provider.

As per the new guidelines, manufacturers will have to provide handset buyers with a booklet containing safety precautions on safe use of handsets.