French tackle mobile phone health dangers

Compulsory hands free kits and a restriction on masts are among a raft of new public health measures announced by the French government to combat the potential dangers posed by mobile phones.

French Industry minister Nicole Fontaine said in an interview with the Journal de dimanche: "In a few months time, mobile phones will not able to be sold without a hands free attachment."

The government initiative envisages the sale of mobiles phones only if they come with a hands free kit. Most mobile shops are already there and the operators, who distribute handsets en masse, are marketing mobiles with hands free kits thrown in as well.

Phones that come with hands frees have been the standard since September 2002 at French mobile operator SFR, and customers with older mobiles can get a free kit on demand. At fellow providers Orange and Bouygues, all mobile packs have come with a hands free kit since 2001.

The minister also announced a future regulation that will put a limit on the power of handsets.

But Marc Seguinot, head of the EC division in charge of protecting the health of consumers, said: "All mobile phones that come on to the market now already have to conform to European standards that limit radiation."

Fontaine also said that before the end of the year, the three main French operators will sign a 'good behaviour charter', whereby they will undertake, among other measures, to "inform the inhabitants before any mast is put up, use existing masts rather than building new ones".

She said: "I am convinced that we won't have to adopt a more restrictive approach."

This initiative, however, hasn't come from the government itself. The operation was developed on behalf of operators by the French association of mobile operators, AFOM, which works in concert with local authorities and various groups.

Nevertheless, the minister still maintains that taking precautions is the way forward, even if scientific studies listed by the World Health Organisation conclude that there isn't any danger from either mobiles or phone masts.

Elaine Spitery, a member of the Priartem association – which campaigns for regulation of phone masts – and a trainee doctor, said: "Finally, the government's conscience has kicked in over the potential danger of mobiles and phone masts."

Christophe Guillemin writes for ZDNet France