New mobile radiation norms that will be effective from September 1 will force non-complaint phone makers to stay away from India.
Companies manufacturing or importing mobile phones for sale in India will have to ensure that the handsets are compliant with new norms.
This will be a big step for the organized mobile sector in India. Illegal imports will be stopped due to the new guidelines. This will also assist leading Indian phone makers such as Micromax, Karbonn, Lava, Spice to avoid pricing pressure in the market since they will not compete with lesser known rivals.
As per the new rule put in place by Telecom Ministry, the exposure of radiation emitted from a mobile phone over a gram of human tissue should not be more than 1.6 watt if a consumer uses it for six minutes.
All companies will have to display radiation emitted from mobile phones on the handset in terms of SAR (specific absorption rate) unit, PTI reported today.
Please read Samsung tops smartphone market share, Nokia second in overall phone biz in Q2
“With the new SAR norm, India would become one of few countries that are following the most stringent norm of 1.6 watt per kg average over six minutes period on 1 gram of human tissue. All legal and ethical companies doing business here are compliant to it,” said Indian Cellular Association’s National President Pankaj Mohindroo.
ICA requested the commerce ministry early this month to put restrictions on imports of non-compliant handsets.
According to a Department of Telecom official, old stock of handsets available in Indian market can be sold but no fresh stock of non-compliant mobile phones will be allowed to be sold from September 1.
Bureau of India Standards is also working on certain norms which are expected to provide clause for seizure of non-compliant handsets, the official said.
