The Carphone Warehouse is concerned that the leaflet could create confusion among consumers in the absence of published SAR figures (Specific Absorption Rate).
The Carphone Warehouse marketing manager Jonathan Hook told Mobile News.
One element that I am disappointed about is that the leaflet suggests customers to check SAR ratings of handsets at a time when no manufacturer has yet tested or published figures.
The Government is creating an expectation level among customers and inevitably confusion. In our own leaflets we quote NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board) and INCRP (International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation Protection) information and all phones sold in The Carphone Warehouse in the UK conform to them.
However Hook believes that this new leaflet will reassure people.
The Stewart report actually does support mobile phones as a fine product to buy and doesnt create any fear. However on reading it people will want SAR figures and this will create confusion Hook said.
The leaflet will start becoming available this week for consumers at the point of sale of major mobile phone retailers.
Later next year it is anticipated that further leaflets will be distributed in pre-pay boxes giving specific information on radiation emission levels on specific handsets.
SAR data is not available on the leaflet.When an agreed standard of testing of SAR levels is available we will publish the information. We are expecting a European standard to be available some time next year produced by SENELEC the European research body in charge of determining the SAR testing said a Department of Health spokesperson.
The mobile phone industry is working with the government to make the SAR information available in a number of places including those that are non mobile phone outlets.
People will make their own choices. We are providing them with the information and evidence and its the duty of any responsible government to do that the DoH said.
The leaflet highlights the fact that there are gaps in the evidence and research and that consumers should take a precautionary approach.
The tests which will be carried out sometime next year will measure the amount of energy produced by phones and absorbed by the human body.
The leaflet now in shops contains extracts of information originally published in the Stewart report of May this year. The leaflet being distributed however does not contain any information about the SAR levels of mobile phones.
The leaflets will generally reflect advice contained in the Stewart report the most comprehensive study done so far on the issues surrounding health and mobile phones.
All four mobile phone networks say they are backing the new Government initiative and are working with Federation of the Electronics Industry to organise distribution of leaflets to retailers as quickly as possible.
An FEI spokeswoman said the actual date of getting leaflets into all stores is dependent on when the printing is done.
The leaflet will emphasise some of the points made in the Stewart report that the balance of evidence to date suggests that exposures to RF radiation below NRPB and ICNIRP guidelines do not cause adverse health effects to the general population.
But the Stewart report said there is now scientific evidence which suggests there may be biological effects occurring at exposures below these guidelines.
The Department of Health says the emission levels of all mobile phones sold in the UK fall within existing safety guidelines.
An Orange spokes-person said: Orange has been consistently asking for clearer more accurate information for the consumer. Anything that helps the consumer make a choice should be welcomed.
One 2 One added:
We welcome the Stewart report and its findings and once the leaflet has been published we ensure it is distributed to all our dealers. Retailers seem to be supportive of this new initiative.
