Results of Appeal for Opinions on Draft Revision of “Guidelines for Prevention of Effects of Radio Waves from Various Equipment Using Radio Waves on Implantable Medical Equipment” and Revision of Guidelines

1.Background

  The MIC has investigated every fiscal year from FY2000 the effects of radio waves emitted from newly introduced various equipment using radio waves (mobile phones, wireless LAN, RFID equipment, electronic article surveillance devices, etc.) on implantable medical equipment . The MIC has compiled the “Guidelines for Prevention of Effects of Radio Waves from Various Equipment Using Radio Waves on Implantable Medical Equipment” based on results thereof to enable information sharing among parties concerned such as users of equipment using radio waves, users of implantable medical equipment and manufacturers of such equipment.
  As services for 2nd generation mobile phones terminated in July 2012, the review of the guidelines has been considered based on the opinions submitted by the “Study Group on Possible Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields” and the appeal for opinions on this draft revision was held from November 30, 2012 to January 4, 2013.
 

2.Results of the appeal for opinions

  As a result of the appeal for opinions, seven opinions were submitted.
   

3.Revision of the guidelines

  Based on the results of the appeal for opinions, the guidelines will be revised as follows, and it is officially announced herein.

  (Outline of revision)
  1. Review of distance of separation
   The distance of separation between mobile phones and implantable medical equipment is changed from 22cm to 15cm taking into account the results of past investigations on effects of mobile phone terminals on implantable medical equipment and the compatibility with the international specifications for implantable medical equipment.
  2. Modification of precautions to owners of mobile phone terminals
   In the precautions to owners of mobile phone terminals, it is clarified that it is necessary to “keep the distance between a mobile phone terminal and a part of installation of implantable medical equipment at 15cm or more” and the expressions are modified in a way that they correspond to new functions of mobile phone terminals (radio wave off mode, etc.).
  3. Modification of handling of PHS terminals
   It has been required to handle PHS terminals in the same way as mobile phones. However, it is not required to handle them in the same way as mobile phones from now on based on the fact that there has been no case where a PHS terminal had an effect on implantable medical equipment in the past investigations on their effects and also taking into account recent changes of state of use thereof. Therefore, the expression is changed to “it is desirable to give consideration to users of implantable medical equipment where necessary.”