The Australian mobile telecommunications industry supports providing consumer information on the health and safety of mobile phones and allowing them to make informed choices about their use of the technology.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) said Today Tonight’s claims this week that specific absorption rate (SAR) data was not readily available to consumers was wrong. AMTA rejected the further claim that the industry was “probably being secretive”.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said SAR information has been available to consumers since 2001. It is available on the handset manufacturers’ websites and in leaflets provided in the box at the point of sale.

“The mobile phone industry makes the information available and every year Choice publishes a list of the handsets models and records their SAR rating,” he said.

“All mobile handsets models sold in Australia are tested and must comply with independent safety standards and regulated by the Federal Government.

“Mobile phone handsets are designed, built and tested to comply with science-based safety standards, which are recognised by national and international health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The Australian safety limit includes a substantial safety margin.”

People can check their mobile phones to see the A-tick stamped on the phone (usually under the battery). The A-tick on phones indicates that they operate below international safety limits.

Variations in SAR levels among mobile phone models does not mean there are safety differences because all must operate below international safety standards.

Mr Althaus said the SAR values reported for each model are maximum values and do not reflect typical exposure received in everyday use.

“This is because mobile phones automatically adjust to the minimum power level needed to successfully maintain a call. This automatic power reduction allows mobile phones to operate more efficiently to preserve battery life, increase talk time and reduce network interference,” he said.

“Comparing SAR values is not like comparing, for example, energy efficiency stars on electrical appliances. A mobile phones maximum SAR is always below safety standards, but varies widely during everyday use, whereas the energy efficiency of electrical appliances is largely stable.”

You can check the SARs on this website: http://www.mmfai.org/public/sar.cfm?lang=eng This link is also found on our website: www.amta.org.au