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Health and safety information
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
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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.
FDA shares regulatory responsibilities for wireless phones
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). All
phones that are sold in the United States must comply
with FCC safety guidelines that limit RF exposure. FCC
relies on FDA and other health agencies for safety
questions about wireless phones.
FCC also regulates the base stations that the wireless
phone networks rely upon. While these base stations
operate at higher power than do the wireless phones
themselves, the RF exposures that people get from these
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