India has adopted to one of the most stringent norms for mobile handsets:
What is Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)?
SAR is an indication of the amount of radiation that is absorbed into the body over a given time. The rate at which the radio frequency energy is absorbed in the body tissue is the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) which has unit, Watt/Kg.- SAR value information display on the mobile handsets like IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) display. The information on SAR values to be made available to the consumer at the point of sale.
- All the new design of mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR values of 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of human tissue effective from 1st Sept. 2012. The mobile handsets with existing designs which are compliant with 2.0 W/kg averaged over 10 gram of human tissue, continue to co-exist up to 31st August 2013. From 1st Sept. 2013, only the mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 W/kg would be permitted to be manufactured or imported in India.
- Mobile hand set manufactured and sold in India or imported from other countries to be checked on random basis for compliance of SAR limit. Test results from International accredited labs shall be acceptable in the interim period. The manufacturers in India shall provide self declaration of SAR value of the handset.
- Manufacturer’s mobile handset booklet shall contain safety precautions. All cell phone handsets sold in the market in India shall comply with relevant standards and shall be available in hand free mode.
